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The chief alternations of the weather are those which 

 occur in consequence of rains or of their absence* The 

 same periods vary, like the temperature, with the locality* 

 In the mountains, they are earlier, more frequent, and 

 more violent than in the lower country. The spring rains 

 do not usually set in until May, though, occasionally, they 

 come as early as March or April. 



I am indebted to Mr. Edward McGeachy, the Crown 

 Surveyor of the island, for much important information 

 about the physical condition of Jamaica, and, among 

 other things, for the following upon the subject of the sea- 

 sons. The usual accounts of them, he tells me, do not 

 give strangers correct impressions. " TSo one on the 

 island has been more exposed to heat, and cold and wet, 

 than I have (Mr. McGeachy has resided in Jamaica thirty 

 years), and I am qualified to say, that the trials of the wet 

 seasons are altogether exaggerated. May and October are 

 our usual wet months on the south side, where I reside, 

 during which periods it often rains for a whole week with- 

 out intermission, then it clears off and the weather is de- 

 lightful, with occasional mid-day ' plumps ' which last 

 about an hour. The mornings and evenings are almost 

 always dry and safe for driving or walking. On one side 

 of the island the season of vegetation lasts from about i 

 May to December, then it becomes dry. But not so, on 

 the north side, which is usually quite wet during the win- 



