TRAyELS IN THE 
CHAPTER XX. 
Of the Climate and Seasons. — Winds. — Vegetable Productions. — 
Population. — General Observations on the Character and Dis- 
position of the Mandingoes ; and a summary Account of their 
Manners and Habits of Life, their Marriages, &c. 
The whole of my route, both in going and returning, having 
been confined to a tract of country bounded nearly by the 12th 
and 15th parallels of latitude, the reader must imagine that 
I found the climate in most places extremely hot; but no where 
did I feel the heat so intense and oppressive as in the camp at 
Benowm, of which mention has been made in a former place. 
In some parts, where the country ascends into hills, the air is 
at all times comparatively cool; yet none of the districts which 
I traversed, could properly be called mountainous. About the 
middle of June, the hot and sultry atmosphere is agitated by 
violent gusts of wind, (called tornadoes) accompanied with 
thunder and rain. These usher in what is denominated the 
rai?iy season; which continues until the month of November. 
During this time, the diurnal rains are very heavy ; and the 
prevailing winds are from the south-west. The termination of 
the rainy season, is likewise attended with violent tornadoes ; 
after which the wind shifts to the north-east, and continues to 
blow from that quarter, during the rest of the yean 
