Of GUIANA 45 



from a hot and mifly country covered with vegetables being 

 very great, the condenfation occasioned by the abfence of the 

 fun, and the cold accompanying that condenfation, are in pro- 

 portion. Near the coaft the diurnal difference of temperature is 

 but trifling, the conftant trade-wind preferving in the air nearly 

 the fame medium of heat as in the body of the ocean ; but far 

 up the river the range of the thermometer was very great. 

 The heat of the day was intolerable. In the Ihade it was fre- 

 quently above 90°. This, when there is no breeze, forces you 

 into the woods for fhelter. Towards evening it cools ; during 

 the night the cold increafes, and is greateft about five in the morn- 

 ing. The thermometer would then be from 72° to 74°. The 

 body of the river being large enough to retain its heat, the eva- 

 poration goes on from its furface through the night, and is 

 condenfed into thick fog, which hangs over it, and is feldom 

 diiperfed before eight or ten next day. While the air was as 

 above in the morning at 72", the water along-fide gave 80° to 

 83*, and feldom rofe two degrees higher at noon-day. We had 

 an opportunity of verifying an obfervation made by the few 

 inhabitants who live far up the river Demerary, that when it 

 feels very cool in the morning before day-break, they are fure 

 of fine weather ; when, on the contrary, it feels warm, they 

 expedl rain. They fleep in hammocks, and the houfes they 

 have are pervious enough to the air, fo they are fenfibly affe(5led 

 by any change in its temperature. 



Seafons. — As to the feafons, it is not an eafy matter, from the 

 accounts given by the colonifts, to afcertain them exacflly. All 

 feem to agree, that fince cultivation has been fomewhat extended, 

 they are not fo regular as before ; that the dry feafon encroaches 

 on the rainy, and that during the latter, they have often feve- 

 ral dry days in fucceffion. The account given by Dr Ban- 

 croft was the one generally allowed ; that it is dry about the 

 equinox, and rainy about the folftices ; that of confequence 



they 



