INTRODUCTIOMi ^2 



ih latitude 14.° 32'fouth, the thermometer was raifed 

 to 85, which was the higheft degree it got to during 

 his voyage round the world ; when he was croffing 

 the line it was about 80 and 82. 



In Dixon's voyage the thermometer was never 

 above 9I5 and when in latitude 0° 8'fouth, which is 

 nearly under the equator, it was at 85 : This was 

 on February 27th, 1788. 



" The heat in Bengal In the fummer months Is 

 variable in the (liade from 98 to 120 degrees, and in 

 the fun it probably does not fall ihort of 140 de- 

 grees *." 



The following extract is taken from Marfden's 

 Hiftory of Sumatra : 



" Sumatra is an ifland in the Eall Indies ; the 

 equator divides It In almod equal parts, the one ex- 

 tremity being In 5° 33' north, and the other in 5° ^6^ 

 fouth latitude. It is found to lie 102^ eaft of Green- 

 wich* No country in the world is, perhaps, better 

 watered than this: Springs are found wherever they 

 are fought for ; the rivers on the weflern coail are 

 innumerable. The heat of the air Is by no means 

 fo intenfe as might be expe<5led in a country occupy- 

 ing the middle of the torrid zone ; It is more tem- 

 perate than In many regions without the tropics 5 the 

 thermometer, at the mofl: fultry hour, which Is akout 

 two In the afternoon, generally flucluating between 

 S2 and 85 degree*. I do not recollect to have ever 

 feen it higher than 86 in the (hade : At fun-rife It Is 



* Dr. Watfon's Effays, 



C Kfually 



