Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/46

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Indians, who are not covetous, nor trouble themselves about many things we do, have much advantage of us.

Frost and Snow are never seen in this hot Climate, but sometimes Hail, and that very large, of which during my being here I saw one instance, it comes with very great Norths, which reach with great violence to the South-side, and throw down everything before them.

The Dews here are so great, as in the morning to drop down from the Leaves of the Trees, as if it had rain'd; they fall most in the morning when coolest. One riding in the night perceives the greatness of the Dews, for he will find his Cloths, Hair, &c. very wet in a small time.

There are few, if any Fogs, in the Plains or sandy places near the Sea, only in mornings over moist places, as Rivers, Ponds, &c. there rises a great Fog; but in the Inland parts, as Sixteen-Miles-Walk, Magotty Savanna, &c. are great Fogs every morning most part of the year, which are clear'd up as the Sun rises, or Sea-Breeze begins to blow. Although these Fogs are as above, yet the People living there are esteemed healthy.

Rains are here very violent and lasting when they come, the drops are very large probably from the Clouds breaking; it being observable, that if one pour water out of any Vessel, the higher 'tis from the Ground the smaller will the Drops be. The Rainbow here is as frequent as any where in times of Rain.

According to the different Positions of the places, so the Rains are more or less violent, and come at different times; but generally Speaking, the two great rainy Seasons are in May and October, in which Months, at new or full Moon, they begin, and continue day and night for a whole fortnight with great violence; so that the Earth in all level places is laid under water for some Inches, and it becomes loose for a great many Inches deep, and so consequently the Roads are almost unpassable. In the Town of St. Jago de la Vega, in those rainy Seasons, I was forc'd to ride on Horseback, although but from door to door, to visit the Sick. And these Seasons, as they are call'd, from their being fit to Plant in, are generally so over the whole Island, though they are much alter'd in their time and violence of late years, which arises from the clearing much of the Country of Wood.

In the month of January is likewise expected a Season or Rain, but this is not so constant nor violent as are the other two, and probably may come from the violent Norths, at that time passing over the Mountains, with part of their Rains with them, for