58 Climate, Seasons, and Temperature. 
only within a few leagues’ distance from several points on the 
seacoast. 
Four seasons are distinctly sketched, hut three only annually 
can he said to he well marked, persistent, and immutable in 
these parts, that is to say, the Western, the Northern, and the 
Southern Departments or sections of the Island, which all 
who immigrate are destined to inhabit. These comprehend two 
wet or rainy seasons and one dry season, which, in relation to 
each Department and particular localities, vary as to the time 
when they commence, hut occur most always about the period of 
the equinoxes and solstices. In the Western Department, 
Port-au-Prince, the seat of government, is located. There, the 
rainy season is in February,- March, and April. During these 
months more or less rain falls irregularly through the day. The 
latter part of May, June, and July, to about''the middle of 
August, with certain rare exceptions, comprehends the dry sea¬ 
son, and is the hottest part of the year. The rainy period 
returns towards the end of August, and continues through 
September to about the middle of October, and is then suc¬ 
ceeded by what is called by the European resident, the cool, 
delicious season. 
Thermometer, hottest season, from 10 a. m. to 4 p. m., in the 
shade, maximum, 98° Fahrenheit; same time, in the sun, 120° 
to 121°. Out of town, in the plains, several degrees lower. 
At Grand-fond, situated E. S. E., distant but three or four 
hours’ ride from the capital, in July, the thermometer at 
6 a. m. will mark 59°- to 60°, and from 12 m. to 2 p. m., 72° to 
78° maximum. From the end of October during the rest of 
the year, and up to the following month of April, the thermo- 
metrical range, in the shade, from 10 a. m. to 3 p. m., is 85° to 
90° maximum; in the sun, 110° to 115° Fahrenheit. 
The Northern Department, with Cape Haytian as- its prin¬ 
cipal town, has two seasons, strictly speaking. December, 
January, March, and April, are rainy months. What is de¬ 
nominated the dry season commences in May and is prolonged 
