132 
MR' LUCAS'S 
of latitude, is charafterizcd by exceffive, though not by uni- 
form heat. Two feafons, the one commencing foon after the 
middle of April, the other at the fame period of October, may 
be faid to divide the year. The f/JI is introduced by violent 
winds that bring with them, from the South Eaft and South, an 
intenfe heat, with a deluge of fultry rain, and fuch tempefts of 
thunder and lightning as deftroy multitudes of the cattle, and 
many of the people. During the rainy period (the continuance 
of which is from three to nine fucceffive days, with fliort inter- 
vals from the occafional changes of the wind to the North or 
Weft) the inhabitants confine themfelves clofely to their dwel- 
lings ; but the reft of the firft feafbn, however fultry and how- 
ever occafionally wet, is not incompatible with the necellary 
labours of the hufbandman and the fliepherd. 
At the commencement of the fecond feafon in the latter part 
of Odober, the ardent heat fubfides ; the air becomes foft and 
mild ; the weather continues perfectly ferene ; and as the year 
declines, an unwelcome coolnefs precedes the rlfmg of the fun. 
The inhabitants, though conftfting of fuch a multitude of na- 
tions that thirty languages are faid to be fpoken in the empire, 
are 
