50 
TRINIDAD. 
the eA^ening star, leisurely and gracefully following in 
the train of the sun. Sweet, indeed, is the influence of 
the Pleiades. It is said that they are seven, but it is 
difficult to count this number. They seem to he 
revolving lights, now sliedding their rays and anon 
veiling them from view. 
Our moonlight nights are brilliant indeed. The- 
queen of night shines with a lustrous beauty in this 
clime. To say at our full moon “ it is as light as day,” 
is scarcely a figure of speech. Her influence is very 
great on tide and tree — on vegetable and animal life 
AYhen the moon is full the tides are very swift, and the 
volume of waters great in their flux and reflux. A’’eget- 
able life is stirred to its utmost roots. Trees, vegetables, 
and flowers are all considerably influenced by the moon. 
Trees felled at the full, with all their sap in them, soon 
perish by reason of the insect life brought into being. 
And though some may be incredulous, those who have 
charge of lunatics assert that their diseases are affected 
by the phases of the moon. 
Puit to tliose to whom health and vigour of mind 
and body have been given, moonlight nights are plea- 
surable seasons, though not, be it observed, Avithout 
some danger to those avIio receive the light of the moon’s 
rays. A\dien the moon is at her full, the deAvs fall Aury 
heaA'ily, and a perceptible moisture is deposited upon 
eAurything. The deAvs and cold of moonlight nights are 
very apt to geuerohe fcAur and ague if one is incautious 
in remaining in them too long. 
The year may be divided into tAvo principal seasons 
— the Avet and the dry. From January to June it is 
generally very dry, though in some years it is shoAveiy 
during these months ; and Avhenever this does happen it 
is calamitious for the planters, as it is impossible to 
make good sugar in bad weather. From June to the 
middle of September it is generally very Avet, rain fall- 
ing so heavily as to SAvell the ravines, fill the rivers to 
DverfloAving, and sometimes in their flood carrying aAvay 
