GENERAL FEATURES OF POLYNESIAN REALM IN RELATION TO DISTRIBUTION. 21 
qualifying factors. A section or valley located in the southern, southeastern, or 
eastern part will have a far greater rainfall than a valley on the leeward or north- 
western slopes of the main massif, on account of the direct sweep of the moisture- 
laden trade-winds against the southeastern areas. It is true that the clouds roll 
past the central peaks and that much rain falls in the upper part of a leeward valley 
whose middle and lower portions are relatively dry; and it is also true that when the 
wind veers to an unusual point of the compass, a region of much moisture may 
suddenly experience a period of drought. But the general statement stands, 
namely, that the windward sides are wetter than the leeward parts. 
As a basis for an estimate of the actual amount of rain, we may employ the 
official records taken at Papeete; but these, like the figures for temperature, must 
not be regarded as representative for all parts of the island. The data of table 7 
exhibit much variation for a given month during a succession of years, and marked 
differences between succeeding years as well; yet in general the months of less 
intense heat (May to September) have less rain than the alternative period. Feb- 
ruary is the wettest month, and this is a fact to be emphasized in view of the effect 
that is exerted by high humidity upon the activities of Partule. 
TaBLE 7.—Statistics of rainfall at Papeete, Tahiti. 
Rainfall (mm.). Hours of rain. 
1901 | 1902 | 1903 | 1904 | 1905 | Average. | 1901] 1902/1903] 1904| 1905 | Average. 
Tanuany: Mie eee 561.6 | 69.6| 121.0| 275.4| 153.9] 236.30| 22] 19| 10| 16] 12] 15.8 
February!) ...0s6 ss. 578.3 |1,028.9 | 206.1] 159.1] 188.5| 432.18| 22] 22| 16| 13| 91] 16.4 
Mearchicc mene er 219.8 | 106-0| 203.1| 163.6| 197.9| 178.08| 12) 13| 11| 13| 8| 11.4 
EDN Lkgg Wad 114.7| 93.2} 328.4| 102.4| 0 io7Ga\| 18) 7 fal 6 a BA 
IMEC ee ee 72.7| 0.5] 320.0| 98.3) 71.0| 112.50| 9| 1] 16 7| 78 
(RIT ee RU B.6\| S62| 93.0) S18] a7] Bel Ol Fil 4] Al wl Ge 
Title ce Meee eee 102) GA6l) 80 | vt) SOO tae | Gl al Ol 7! ol oe 
arsustet met enn WO | %GO|| 18.0] A419] Mell Gs40] wl Zl wl Bi Al we 
September........... 133.7] 110.0| 980.2| 54.7| 0 BaP || el sell sell Gill Wil es 
October ek cachine Sau 1ostanll4oielleesauval sso 134781) isi soll 8) 7 4) 706 
November.........-. 120.2 | 100.5] 273.9] -66.4| 103.9| 132.98] 14| 7] 12| 6] 7| 9.2 
December......-.... 505.5 | 119.9| 404.5| 188.1| 75.9| 258.78] 18| 16] i8| 13] 2] 13.4 
miner eee 3,266.0 |2,079.0 |2,432.1 |1,318.5 1,009.4 |2,021.00 | 
Total{ mn star 130.64) 83.16 97.281 52.74)  40.37| 80.84 }163 WB |) We) |) MOY || Sy) Ee 
Humidity is high, as indicated by the figures of table 8, also based upon observa- 
tions at Papeete. Not only is atmospheric moisture abundant, but its fluctuations 
in diurnal respects occur between narrow limits. 
Realizing that Papeete lies on the protected leeward side of the island, and is 
subject to eddies of wind rather than to steady trades, it is clear that an estimate of 
rainfall elsewhere must give much increased figures. On the Hitiaa side, rain falls 
during at least three times as many hours as at Papeete, and hence the total precipi- 
tation would be estimated at about 250 inches a year. But taking all of the fore- 
going facts into account, it is clear that in the high central parts of Tahiti there 
must be a prodigious amount of rain. Practically every day of the year, from 
IO a. m. to at least 3 p. m., the clouds are massed on the peaks and rain is falling 
somewhere. Assuming that this is true for 300 days, and for only one-quarter of 
