HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
*5 
winds. At this period, the sun rises with a serene aspect. At about ten o’clock 
small clouds appear, and continue to accumulate without any menacing appearance; 
they occupy but a small space, while their motion is almost imperceptible. A few 
drops of water fall from them, a certain sign of the rain which follows ; for the sky 
is almost immediately, and so insensibly overcast, that it is impossible to perceive 
from whence the clouds have proceeded: at the same time the rain increases in 
such a manner, as to render it impracticable to see any object at the distance of an 
hundred yards. These rains continue about two hours, but fall only when the 
wind sets in from the sea. When these inundating showers cease, vapours arise 
from the sea, and are stopped by the mountains. On the contrary, during the sea¬ 
son of the south-east winds, particularly in the evening, a small rain is seen to fall, 
though the sky appears without a cloud, and adorned with stars in full lustre. 
At the extremity of the harbour, rainbows are also produced by the moon; a phseno- 
menon very seldom seen in our part of Europe.” 
