by such amazing numbers as first peopled these islands, who had little else to engage their attention, must have been considerable to afford them any support. But the work being performed by such numbers, it could be accomplished without much difficulty; while a double harvest in such a fruitful climate must have yielded a considerable supply. But great as this supply might have been, it could not have been adequate to their wants. The productions of all-prolific nature constituted their greatest resource, and beguiled them of confidence in the utility of their own industry. The unfading springs of perennial vegetation had obtained an ascendency over their minds, and matured a reliance which a few temporary disasters could not shake. Their Maize seemed calculated to supply some comparative inconveniences; they had recourse to this on occasional circumstances, and trusted nature for all the rest.

But the benefits which resulted from this cultivation, did not immediately terminate with the harvests which succeeded to reward their toil. By the culture of their lands, they cleared them of noxious weeds, and of those useless shrubs which would have impeded the progress of those breezes, which are so necessary to salubrity; and through the astonishing elevation of the trees, together with the height at which the branches began to sprout, a free circulation was further opened to the breezes, which must have contributed greatly to establish the health of the natives.

In these alcoves of nature, which the interwoven foliage of the trees contributed to make, the natives must have found a sylvan recéss. The irregular avenues, opening in every direction, must have invited the refreshing gales, as through an immense number of irregular but stately pillars, which seemed planted by nature to support an unfading canopy, placed above to parry the solar blaze. In these cool retreats, equally adapted for permanent habitation, or occasional retirement, they found protection or shelter, as occasional circumstances requir ed. In the midst of heats which were almost insupportable, they were furnished with a refuge from their intenseness; and in the autumnal rains, they enjoyed in these abodes a defence from the impending cataract. Such was this delightful country when disa covered by Columbus; and such, under changes of circumstances, is the general view of these islands in the present day!*

In thus characterizing the climate at large, it is not the design of the author to insinuate, that it is to be considered as salubrious or insalubrious in the abstract. Generally speaking, these terms are but relative, and can only receive their respective denominations from the various subjects to which they apply. Men are suited to their native habitations; and the temperature of the atmosphere which is congenial to some constitutions, proves to others the

They have some permanent characters, which the ravages of time can hardly alter; which appear to be inseparable from their peculiar situation; and which must therefore be much

bane of life. Many things therefore must be taken into the account, before either the salubrity or insalubrity of these extensive territories can be admit ted as of universal application.

Since the discovery of these regions by Columbus, natives of almost every maritime nation in Europe have flocked thither in pursuit of wealth. Men, issuing from almost every latitude between the tropic of cancer and the arctic circle, must of necessity have carried into this burning climate, some consti tutions which had been previously formed for the habitation of colder zones. The intense heat of these islands must therefore of necessity be but badly adapted either to promote or secure the health of all these adventurers. When we contemplate the vast range of latitude which lies between Denmark and some of the African shores, and behold the inhabitants of these distant couns tries residing on the same spot, it would be the height of folly for us to expect that the salubrity of the West Indies should be alike to all. That temperature of atmosphere which would prove congenial to a Norwegian, would freeze a native of Senegal; while, if we invert the order, we must conclude, that what would prove congenial to an African or Indian, would melt the Swede into languor, and render him unfit for those fatigues which are inses parable from a commercial life. Under these circumstances, even common exertions, in a climate which has unbraced the fibres and relaxed the strength, how natural soever they might have been deemed in the mother country, be come a violence offered to nature, and may easily account for many of the deaths which happen, without obliging us to have recourse to those dreadful pestilences, in which "nature sickens, and each gale is death."

Intemperance, to which these regions hold out the most powerful temptations, may be considered as another cause, by which multitudes of Europeans meet their fate. "The ridiculous notion" (says Dr. Moseley)" that people are to die of putrid diseases in hot countries, unless they keep up their spirits, and embalm their bodies, by the assistance of an additional quantity of wine, strong liquors, and living well (as it is vulgarly called) has caused the death of thousands." Treatise on Tropical Diseases, p. 79. Why then shall the climate be charged with insalubrity, when inconsiderate indulgence exercises all its efforts to murder a constitution already debilitated by the sudden transitions which it has undergone? The fatal effects of this pernicious evil are unhappily but too well known in every country in Europe, even where the inhabi. tants are not transplanted from their native soil. It must be needless therefore to animadvert on these effects, where their cause is augmented; and that too in a country, which, in the ear of reason, demands the full exercise of all the abstemious virtues. Hence then both labour and intemperance conspire to bring vast multitudes of Europeans to their graves: and their effects may be estimated by the proportion with which these causes are permitted to operate. We must not, however, suppose that these causes are alike destructive to all European constitutions. Their original distance in latitude, seems to afford the best barometer, admitting the influence of these causes to be the same.Thus, the Spaniard is less affected with the shock which the transition occasions, than the Frenchman; the Frenchman less than the Englishman; and the Englishman still less than the natives of the more northern countries. In the mean while, the negro feels his vigour increase as the solar beams are fiercely darted upon him, in nearly the same proportion as that of the European des clines through the powerful operation of the same cause. As to the native Indians who once inhabited these sylvan recesses, the murderous hand of Spain has prevented ús from making many remarks on existing facts. We neverthe

the same in all those records, which hold them forth to the notice of the world.

The temperature of the air, upon which the changes of the seasons so much depend in every portion of the world, may perhaps be considered among the permanent articles of nature in these islands. Subjected to regular variations, it observes a greater constancy than is to be found without the tropics, and contributes considerably towards those varied seasons which mark the year. The winters and summers of these islands can hardly be described in suitable language or by adequate ideas to the inhabitants of the more northern latitudes. The ideas which we have been accustomed to associate together, we have frequently much difficulty in separating, and in confining to those local occasions which called them into being.

Were we to follow nature in the divisions of the seasons in these islands, we should find but two; and these are the dry and the wet. But in imitation of European customs, where we cannot follow European manners, it is usual to divide these seasons into four; though they begin and end in different months, and will hardly justify the division which we make.

The spring usually commences with the month of May. The foliage of the trees then exhibits more lively colours than in the preceding months, and the gaieties of nature put on a more vivid hue. The periodical rains are then daily expected, by every kind of vegetation, by the earth which seems opening to receive its promised supply; and by the preparations which have been made by man. These rains generally set in about the middle of the month. Compared with those which fall in Autumn, they may be considered as gentle showers, which only sprinkle the surface of the soil. They descend chiefly in the middle of the day, approaching from the southern quarter; and break up with loud peals of thunder; which terminate the daily scene, disperse the clouds, and restore the skies to their wonted serenity. These rains continue for about a fortnight, with little or no variation; and when they cease, they leave the earth clothed with the smile of gratitude, and renewed in ver dure, to unfold her opening blossoms to the summer's sun.

During this season, the transitions, through varied degrees of heat, are very sudden and uncertain. The thermometer

is rarely in one position through any measurable distance. It Auctuates, and falters, and seems to labour under hesitations,

less cannot but conclude, that a climate which is so congenial to men imported from Africa, must have been superlatively so to its native children.

For an account of the introduction and ravages of the yellow fever, see our History of Grenada, vol. ii. chap. xiii.

varying six or eight degrees in a short space. At length it de termines in favour of superior heat, and fixes in a medium standard, at about 75 degrees. In the mean while vegetation, quickened with the rains which had fallen, and stimulated by the action of the solar rays, sprouts from every quarter; and moves onward with a rapidity that is almost inconceiveable. A change of seasons is evidently visible at the termination of the vernal rains; the sudden transitions are now past; and the weather becomes fixed and dry. The different degrees of heat afford no radical inconveniency to the inhabitants; a temporary languor occasi onally felt, seems to be the greatest.

The season, established after these vernal, periodical rains, becomes tranquil and salutary; and the tropical summer immediately succeeds. Not a cloud is to be seen.

The heat is excessive. The solar rays descending in a perpendicular direction, seem to pierce with an angry violence. A general languor is dif fused through all animal nature; and the arid savannas bask be→ neath the almost insufferable blaze. Even vegetation, languishing beneath such intenseness, appears overpowered, and seems to ask relief. Through animated life an apparent silence ensues; and even the retreats which nature has provided among her delicious arbours, are insufficient to afford protection against the fierceness of the solstitial fires.

To counteract or lessen these inconveniences, the sea breeze regularly sets in about ten o'clock, and continues to blow with great force and refreshing vigour, during the remaining part of the day; in the evening it dies away, and the land breeze supplies its place. The causes of these breezes we shall soon proceed to explain, after having passed through the different seasons of the year.

The languor and debility which those heats occasioned, are however soon banished by this refreshing sea breeze; and all nature, awakened from a state of torpor, starts forth into renovated life. The heats which were almost insupportable and excessive, now become tolerable; nature seems to revive in all her works; and her shady recesses which afforded hardly any relief, are now pleasant and delightful. In these perennial retreats, beneath a canopy of foliage, which the solar rays can hardly penetrate, and which is supported by stupendous pillars, the diurnal breeze circulates without impediment, and offers an invi tation to its cooling shades. These accommodating circumstances sufficiently recompense for the previous annoyances; and render these islands, even in the height of summer, delightful beyond those conceptions which we might be inclined to form.

In this season of the year, the tropical night keeps pace with

the tropical day. The nights are uncommonly bright and serene. The stars, which spangle in the etherial vault, emit. a radiance which is unknown in Europe; and gild the hemisphere with an inconceivable brilliancy. Constellations which

are invisible in England, here display their beauties, and shine through all the summer without being intercepted with a shade. The magnitudes of these stars appear to be enlarged; and many, which, through obstructing mediums, are invisible in the northern latitudes, are here conspicuous through the purity of the. air. Some stars of the first magnitude, which the peculiar position of the heavens conceals from the higher latitudes, are not only visible in these climes, but shine with a lustre peculiar to themselves. The planets put on a more resplendent appearance; and display a refulgence which is exclusively applicable to the torrid zone. Their aspects are bolder and more striking than in other climates; and their radiance increases as well as that of the fixed stars. They glow with a brightness which, in this season, is sullied with no obstruction, and intermitted only by the periodical revolutions of the system. To increase the glory of this enchanting scene, the moon makes her appearance, not in "clouded majesty," but in resplendent brilliancy; diffusing a light which seems to originate în native lustre. In her presence, the stars, both erratic and fixed, are apparently eclipsed, and deprived of half their honours; while her light is sufficient for the transaction of almost any business in the open air. The smallest print may be read, without difficulty, by her light; and distant objects may plainly be seen. By her light the finest landscapes in nature are presented to the eye of the spectator; he gazes with admiration and wonder on the beauties which swarm around him, and wanders into the pathless regions of fancy without satiety or disgust. At the same time the air is tranquil and serene, and contributes greatly to heighten the general beauties of the night. Not a single cloud hides any portion of the vast expanse, or interrupts the contemplative mind in its pursuit of those meditations, which the solemnity of the scene and the stillness of the night had conspired to raise. It is a season which invites to serious thought, while it soothes the perturbations of the heaving bosom, and spreads tranquillity through all the powers of the soul. It is a season which awakens the mind to serious reflections; and carries the intellectual powers beyond the horizon which circumscribes the scene.* It is a sea

The beauty of a tropical night, in the summer season, surpasses all the powers of description. The lustre of the planets seems to increase in proportion to that of the fixed stars; the bodies of all appear magnified; and, on ac