This made me resolve to cut some more stakes, and make me a hedge like this, in a semicircle round my wall (I mean that of my first dwelling), which I did; and placing the trees or stakes in a double row, at about eight yards distance from my first fence, they grew presently, and were at first a fine cover to my habitation, and afterwards served for a defence also, as I shall observe in its order.

I found now that the seasons of the year might generally be divided, not into summer and winter, as in Europe, but into the rainy seasons and the dry seasons, which were generally thus:⁠—The half of February, the whole of March, and the half of April⁠—rainy, the sun being then on or near the equinox.

The half of April, the whole of May, June, and July, and the half of August⁠—dry, the sun being then to the north of the line.

The half of August, the whole of September, and the half of October⁠—rainy, the sun being then come back.