PART V.— CLIMATE— METEOROLOGY— TIDES— 
ROLLERS. 
In excellence of climate, St. Helena is perhaps without an equal • 
no heat of torrid zones, or cold blasts from frigid regions, approach 
its genial shores. There no thunder-storms terrify the timid, no 
cholera, no yellow-fever, no small-pox, scarlatina, or deadly lurking 
fever-germs pollute the air. Nor is its balmy atmosphere ever 
marred by scorching winds, hot vapours, typhoons, hurricanes 
cyclones, or any other characteristic of tropical regions. Through- 
out the year bright sunshine, clear skies, gentle breezes and deep 
blue seas, all combine to make it one of the most charming spots 
that can be found. The Island might reasonably and is generally 
supposed to be tropical in climate, lying as it does about one- 
third of the way within the tropic of Capricorn, and only 955 
miles from the Equator; but fortunately its isolated position, far 
removed from the influence of any large tract of land, imme- 
diately in the heart of the ever-prevailing fresh, healthy, south-east 
trade winds, completely frees it from any of the disagreeables 
which such a latitude might be expected to possess. The climate 
is also rendered more temperate than it would otherwise be by 
the cool current of water which generally flows from ’ the 
Antarctic regions towards the Island ; and when, on the other hand, 
the current sets in strongest from the Equatorial region — as it does 
when the rollers occur it accounts for the close, oppressive, and 
warm state of the atmosphere on such occasions. Although not 
so much difference exists as in Europe, the year is really marked 
by lour seasons— viz., Spring, extending from October to December ; 
Summer, from January to March ; Autumn, from April to June • 
and the remaining three months constituting Winter. 
Although there is no perceptible difference for a week or so 
Spring really commences on the 23rd September; Summer on the 
22nd December, when the sun has its greatest south declination • 
Autumn on the 21st March, when the sun is on the equator; and 
