98 METEOROLOGICAL PHENOMENA. Book I. 
existing near that city, and which have been described 
in a former chapter. 
One of the two peaks of the island bears the name of 
Ometepe, which, in this application, may be called absurd, 
as a term meaning "two mountains" cannot be justly 
applied to designate one of them. The other is called the 
peak of Madera. According to Baron Billow, the former 
has an altitude of 5100, the latter of 4190 feet. The 
former can be ascended without difficulty. Its lower 
region is covered with forests, the higher with savanas, and 
in general its sides appear to be of a nature very closely 
resembling those of the Telica. The peak of Madera is 
thickly wooded from the waters edge to the summit. 
There may be considerable difficulties in penetrating 
through the forest, which, as I imagine, conceals some 
objects of Indian antiquity. 
During the dry season, while for months a spotless sky 
is spread over Nicaragua, a thick cloud covers the top of 
the peak of Ometepe, and, if examined on the spot, may be 
observed to be in a constant process of originating on the 
north-eastern side of the summit, to roll over it in a direction 
to the south-west, where it is in an equally constant process 
of dissolving. The north-eastern trade wind, striking against 
the side of the mountain, is forced to cross the apex, and 
passing thus from a warmer into a colder region of the 
atmosphere, is obliged to part with a portion of the water 
it held in dissolution. Thus the cloud is produced on the 
windward side of the summit. On the lee side, the reverse 
takes place. The wind descends from the colder to the 
warmer region, where the cloud is dissolved, not, however, 
before a part of its water has collected in heavy rain-drops 
which I have observed to fall, even at the northern foot of 
the mountain, from a thin and almost transparent veil 
