CLIMATE. 23 



showers of rain and gentle breezes froni the south 

 and west, until the end of May, 



The summer begins in June, and the weather 

 becomes hot Calms about this time generally re- 

 place the gentle breezes of May; the atmosphere 

 becomes sultry and oppressive, and long droughts are 

 common, which are usually succeeded by severe 

 thimder-storms. 



The weather in September changes its character, 

 and again becomes mild and agreeable. 



It may not be unimportant to the general reader to 

 give the following sailing directions between Ber- 

 muda and New York, or the Chesapeake :* — 



" The first half of a revolving gale is a fair wind 

 from Bermuda to New York, because in it the wind 

 blows from the east ; but the last half is a fair wind 

 from New York to Bermuda. During the winter 

 season most of the gales which pass along the coast of 

 North America being revolving gales, vessels from 

 Bermuda, bound to New York, should put to sea 

 when the north-west wind, which is the conclusion of 

 a passing gale, is becoming moderate, and the baro- 

 meter is rising to its usual level. The probability 

 wiU be, more particularly in the winter season, that 



* I^om the latest edition of Sir William Eeid's work on the 

 Lava of Storms. 



