SETTLEMENTS ON THE DEMERARY, &C. 87 



estate is obliged to be half stifled with smoke to secure a 

 night's rest. Their stings and singing noise are very disagree- 

 able, and the remedy of smoaking them out is thought nearly 

 as bad as the disease. How destructive to insect life is the 

 burning of camphor, was first observed in Sweden : perhaps 

 this, or some other, envenomed vapor, could be employed 

 more efficaciously than wood-smoak. 



The dry season may really be termed beautiful : a fine clear 

 blue sky prevails throughout the day, which is seen making 

 its appearance from the east between the hours of four and 

 five ; for the morning twilight is gradual and long ; whereas 

 in the evening the sun goes out at six instantly, as if covered 

 with an extinguisher, leaving the country in sudden darkness. 

 This striking difference between the duration of the morning 

 and evening twilight probably arises from the sun's rising over 

 the sea, where the moist atmosphere is very refractive, and 

 setting behind high mountains whose shadow has definite limits. 

 The greatest heat is from seven to ten, and is almost intole- 

 rable. The sea-breeze then begins to set in, which restores to 

 nature all her animation, and which blows with increasing 

 spirit until dark, but decreases about ten at night. 



August is the commencement of the hurricane months in 

 the West Indies : Guyana, however, is but little affected, ex- 

 cept by heavy squalls of wind, which do no other injury 



