42 AVOYAGETO Book I. 



fuch impetuofity, that the ftreets have the appearance 

 of riv€rs, and the country of an ocean. The inha- 

 bitants make ufe of this opportunity, otherwife fo 

 dreadful, for filling their cifterns; this being the 

 only fweet water they can procure. Befides the wa- 

 ter faved for private ufes, there are large refervoirs 

 on the baftions, that the town may not be reduced to 

 the Ihocking confequence of wanting water. There 

 are indeed wells in moft houfes; but the water, be- 

 ing thick and brackilh, is not fit to drink, but ferves 

 for other ufes. 



From the middle of December to the end of April, 

 the rains ceafe, and the weather becomes agreeable, 

 the heat being fomething abated by the N. E. winds 

 which then fet in. This feafon they call fummer; 

 befides which, there is another called the little fum- 

 mer of St. John, as, about the feftival of that faint, 

 the rains are intermitted, and refrefliing gales begin 

 to blow, and continue about a month. 



The invariable continuance of fuch great heats, 

 without any fenfible difference between night and 

 day, occafions fuch profufe perfpiration in the body, 

 that the wan and livid complexion of the inhabitants 

 would make a (tranger fufpe6l they were juft recover- 

 ed from fome terrible diflemper. Their actions are 

 conformable to their colour; in all their motions 

 there is fomething relax and fluggifh j it even affefts 

 their fpeech, which is foft and flovv', and their words 

 generally broken. But notv/ithftanding all thefe ap^ 

 pearaoces of ficknefs and debility, they enjoy a good 

 ftate of health. Strangers from Europe retain their 

 ftrength and ruddy colour pollibly for three or four 

 months ^ but afterwards both fuffer fuch decays from 

 the exceffive perfpiration, that thefe new comers are 

 no longer to be diilinguifned by their countenances 

 from the old inhabitants. Young perlbns are gene- 

 rally moil affeded by the climate, which fpares the 

 fTiore agedg who preferye their vivid countenance. 



