1S6 DESCRIPTIVE GEOGRAPHY,. 
from December to May; but the remainder of the year is hot 
and unhealthy for strangers. Between August and October, 
‚remendous hurricanes or storms sometimes OCCUr, which 
often do great injury to towns, houses, and shipping. 
4. The West Indies abound in nearly all the productions 
nf warm elimates, and are rich in & variety of articles of 
great importance in commerce ; while the forests furnish 
mahogany and several other woods useful in the arts. 
5. The prineipal fruits are, oranges, lemons, pine-apples, papaws, 
bananas, plaintains, &ce, "The two last afford a supply of excellent 
food, with but little attention to their cultivation. A great varicty of 
3irds is found in the West Indies, nearly all of which are, however, 
sommon to the neiyhbouring continents. 
Green Turtle. 
Guana Lizard. 
6. The green turtle and guana lizard are both highly prized, as 
sffording delicious food, The former are sent in considerable numbers 
‚o Europe and the United States, "They come on shore in the night, 
“len the fishermen turn them on their backs, and collect them at 
leisure. "The guana is from four to five feet long; it is very nimble, 
and is hunted with dogs. "The flesh is tender, sweet, and delicate, 
7. Commerce is carried on from the West India Islands 
with great activity, and to a larger amount than in any other 
region of the same extent and population. 
38, The chief articles of export are, coffee, sugar, rum, 
zotton, cocoa, pimento, mahogany, logwood, &c, "The im- 
ports are, manufactured goods of all kinds from Europe, with 
Hour, lumber, fish, and salted provisions from the United 
States and British America, 
9. The islands of the West Indies are under the control of Governors, 
yecur? 4. In what do the West Indies abound? 5. What are the 
arimet 2 44 * hat is said, E irds? 6, Ofthe green turtle, &e. 
"Wa Bl * ermmerce? 8, What are ihe chief articles of 
“7a com] are the islands under? How are