304 CRUISE OF THE PORPOISE. 



quency of showers is much complamed of. In some parts, it is said, 

 a day never passes without rain. 



With respect to the force of the trade-wind, whicli generally pre- 

 vails for nine months of the year, it is, at times, extremely unplea- 

 sant, and blows over the high land of the islands with great fury, 

 sometimes becoming dangerous to vessels in the neighbourhood. 

 This remark applies particularly to the small islands : the larger ones 

 have alternate land and sea breezes, which moderate their tempera- 

 ture, and usually the winds are not so violent. The most delightful 

 part of the twenty-four hours is the night, and I have never experi- 

 enced such pleasant ones in any other part of the globe. Though 

 warm, there is an elasticity in the air that never exhausts. In the 

 ■winter season, from December to March, the trade-winds for the most 

 part cease; calms take their place, and occasionally a southwest gale is 

 experienced for two or three days. This is generally preceded by a 

 heavy swell setting from that quarter, and a great increase in the surf 

 This wind is accompanied by heavy rain : we did not experience it 

 ourselves, except while on the mountain ; but the residents informed 

 me that it was extremely uncomfortable, and instead of the elasticity 

 usually felt in the northeast wind, they experienced a heavy dull 

 feeling, relaxing the whole system. At certain seasons of the year 

 there are heavy dews; exposure to them, however, is not deemed 

 injurious. 



The diseases of the climate are few, and generally of a mild type, 

 and from the report of physicians long resident, the islands may be 

 considered healthy for foreigners. The diseases that are most preva- 

 lent are fevers, diarrhoeas, inflammations, dropsy, catarrhs, ophthal- 

 mia, asthma, dysentery, rheumatism, scrofula, and venereal. 



These diseases, notwithstanding the absence of apparent causes, are 

 frequent among the natives ; but many of them are brought on by 

 living in their grass-houses, which are by no means impervious to the 

 weather, and are consequently often wet. Another frequent cause is 

 the partial decomposition of the grasses with which they are thatched 

 on the roof and sides. In passing into them I invariably experienced 

 a smell of mustiness, and a mouldy appearance is frequently seen 

 about their mats and tapas. From the openness of the houses they 

 of course are subject to all the atmospheric changes, which must natu- 

 rally induce disease by the constant checking of perspiration, a cause 

 that is rendered still more active by their sleeping on damp ground. 



