THE MASCARENES 167 
inclusive. The driest months are September and 
October. 
The Island of Reunion has a hot and wet season 
{Jiivemage) from November to May, and a cool dry 
period from May to October, but the distribution of 
rain differs in different places on account of the different 
elevations of the ground. 
St. Denis, the capital, in the north of the island, with 
130 rainy days has a rainfall of 67 inches, Ste. Marie has 
78 inches, while St. Benoit, with 244 rainy days, has 156 
inches. The conditions of temperature vary with the 
height above the sea. From the coast, where the temper¬ 
ature is tropical, we have the whole thermometric scale 
down to that of the temperate zone, for in August the 
Piton des Neiges, the highest elevation, is not uncommonly 
covered with snow. The reception of strangers has 
consequently developed into a regular industry on the 
island, as the dwellers on the coast of the Mascarenes 
frequently seek out the cool mountain air of Salazie, 
where medicinal springs are also to be found. 
The conditions of health are favourable, though the 
islands are not entirely free from fevers. The climate, 
otherwise so pleasant, has one drawback in the fre¬ 
quency of whirlwinds or cyclones. The hurricanes of 
Mauritius are notorious, and the reeion of the Mascarenes 
is a veritable centre of mighty atmospheric disturbances, 
which are especially frequent in the months of February 
and March. In accordance with observations extending 
over 25 years, the 53 cyclones were distributed as follows: 
February and March together had 30 hurricanes, January 
9, April 8, and December 6. The area of formation 
extends from 8° to 12° S. lat. The wind, raising the 
sea into fearful commotion, proceeds first in a west-south¬ 
west direction till it reaches Mauritius and Reunion, 
and then it takes a more southerly course. 
The approach of a cyclone is announced by a heavy 
