In the North-side of this Island Rains in that Month are generally very frequent and violent, coming along with great Winds, which nevertheless seldom pass the Hills, or ridge of Mountains running through the middle of the Island, so that very often the Seasons of the one are different from those of the other.
For all the Summer-months, or when the Sun is near, or over their Heads, or indeed almost the whole year round, towards Noon, it rains on some part of the Ridge of Mountains running through the Island, with Thunder and Lightning. These Rains seldom reach two or three Miles into the Plains; wherefore on the account of these Rains, the Valleys lying very near, or amongst the Mountains, have more Seasons, and are more fertile than the Plains farther off, which, if they have any Rain, it is but the Outskirts of that in the Mountains, and therefore inconsiderable.
At other times of the year, sometimes for three or four days together there may be a Shower about Twelve, or four a Clock in the Afternoon, which only serves to moisten the surface of the Ground without any profit.
It will be necessary for the better understanding of these Things, to give a Journal of the Weather, observed by me at St. Jago de la Vega in Jamaica.
May 1688.
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