HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
*3 
May.—Westerly and north-west winds; the season dry, but in the low grounds 
and the interior parts of the island, the air possesses an agreeable freshness. 
June.—The winds are stationary at the south-east, from which point they very 
seldom vary. The rain falls in small drops. 
July.—Wind in the south-east; strong breezes during the day, which subside 
at night, when it becomes calm. The rain falls in slight dropping showers; and 
the air is so cool as to require warm clothing. In short, it is now winter, if such 
an expression may be employed in a country where the trees never lose their 
leaves. 
August.—It rains almost every day. The summits of the mountains are clad in 
cloudy vapours, which descend into the vallies, accompanied with gales of wind. 
September.—The same weather and the same wind. It is now the time of 
harvest. 
October.—The temperature of the air is somewhat warmer; though it is still 
fresh in the interior parts of the island. At the end of this month the corn is sown, 
and in four months it is reaped. It is sown again in May, and is ripe in September; 
so that there are two harvests in the course of the year. 
November.—The heat is now very sensibly felt; the winds are variable, and are 
sometimes in the north-west. The rains are accompanied with storms. 
December.—The heats increase. The sun is vertical, but the heat of the air is 
moderated by the rains, which destroy the rats, grasshoppers, ants, &c. In short, 
the winds and rains produce the same beneficial effect, which other climates receive 
from the cold and frosts of the winter season. 
M. le Gentil * gives the following account of the climate of this island, in his 
Voyage to the Indian Seas. 
li There are four seasons in the island of Mauritius. The first begins in May, 
and is accompanied with south-east winds. At this time the island is subject to 
squalls and rain. The rains are in general very beneficial to the corn, though they 
sometimes injure it. 
“ The second season begins in September or October, at which time the south¬ 
east winds are succeeded by those of the north T west. The sun now approaches 
the zenith of the island, warms the atmosphere, and causes the rains and winds, which 
generally begin in December, when the third season commences, which extends to 
* Royal Academician. 
