Temperature. — Climate. — Borneo Diamonds. 151 



of temperature with tliat of tliirty years since, it appears that 

 since the foundation of the settlement it has gained three de- 

 grees in temperatm^e, a phenomenon which may be ascribed 

 to the increase of buildings, and to the large clearings for a 

 distance of five miles round the town, and perhaps also to the 

 spot itself Avhere these observations were made being exposed. 



There is no regular rainy season in Singapore. Rain falls 

 every month throughout the year, the heaviest falls occurring 

 in August and December. According to observations carried 

 on dming four j^ears, the annual rain-fall averaged 93 inches. 

 The tolerably regular distribution of the rain throughout the 

 year impai^ts to the vegetation a freshness that makes the 

 change of seasons pass almost unheeded. 



In Singapore as elsewhere the members of the Novara Ex- 

 pedition experienced from all classes of society the most 

 cordial and hospitable reception. Every one bestirred him- 

 self to point out to us everything that was worth knowing, 

 or that the city could present of interest or deserving 

 special attention. After a cursory stroll through the most 

 frequented streets, with their dense crowds of people, which 

 sufficiently proved to us that trade was in fact the chief occu- 

 pation of the inhabitants, we turned our attention to the shops 

 of some of the Mahometan merchants, when our eyes were 

 dazzled with all the most vaiious products of India. 



In one of these we were shown some exceedingly valuable 

 diamonds from Borneo, one of which weighed 17 carats, and 

 was worth £4000 sterling, while another of 19 carats, but less 



