ON THE METEOROLOGY OF FORT LOUIS. 



123 



As might be expected of an island exposed to the bracing S.E. trade- 

 wind, having a mean annual tempei'atiu-c of 07° to 77° (the temperature in 

 the interior is from 4° to 10° loAver than at Port Louis), and a mean humi- 

 dity of 71, clothed with vegetation, and subject to so small variations of 

 temperature and humidity, Mauritius possesses one of the best tropical cli- 

 mates in the world. At one time it was a sanatoiium for invalids from 

 India in search of health ; and if, of late, it has been the scene of di-ead- 

 ful mortality, this is not to be ascribed to an unbountiful Nature, but, there 

 is reason to fear, to a neglect and violation of her laws. 



I mentioned at the outset that the site of the Observatory was objection- 

 able. In conclusion I beg to state, that a new Observatory is about to be 

 erected in a more favourable locality. The old Observatory and grounds 

 have been sold for ,£10,000, and the local government have voted a portion 

 of that sum for the erection of a new Observatory, which is to be supplied 

 with self-recording meteorological and magnetical instruments. Plans of 

 the buildings have been prepared at the request of the Secretary of State 

 for the Colonies ; and although Mauritius has lately been sorely tried, 

 it is expected that the buildings will soon be commenced. The Governor, 

 Sir Henry Barkly, who has done so much for science in other colonies, 

 is a warm promoter of the measure, and His Excellency's influential endea- 

 voiu's are seconded by the principal Government officials and the leading 

 planters and merchants. Nor can I close this communication Avithout making 

 mention with becoming respect of the efforts and recommendations of Gene- 

 ral Sabine, who, for a number of years, has lost no opportunity of urging the 

 importance of Mauritius as a meteorological and magnetical station, and is 

 still pleased to take much interest in the subject. 



Table I. — Showing the Mean Temperatui-e of the Air for each Observation 

 Hour, derived from Six-hourly Observations taken daily from 1860 to 

 1866, both inclusive. 



Mouths. 



January 



February 



Marcli 



April 



May 



June 



Jiiiy 



August 



September 



October 



November 



December 



Mean for each hour 



(+) above ( — ) below mean 



3i A.M. 



8o-oi 

 79-87 

 79-11 

 78-21 

 74.-84 

 72-31 

 70-71 

 70-81 



7i'33 

 73-48 

 76-56 

 78-95 



75-5° 



9i A.M. 



-I-61 



82-23 



8i-6i 

 8 1 -co 

 80-38 



77-05 

 73-70 

 72-14 

 72-50 

 73-64 

 75-85 



7 9 '47 

 Si-53 



77'59 



+0-48 



83-67 

 82-98 

 82-51 

 81-77 

 7S-30 



75'37 

 73-64 



73'95 

 75-16 

 77-07 

 80-74 

 82-64 



78-99 



+ I-SS 



91- P.M. 



80-97 

 80-58 



79"93 

 79-07 



75"63 

 72-65 

 71-30 

 71-57 

 72-37 

 74-50 



7771 

 80-04 



76-36 



-0-75 



Monthly 

 means. 



81-72 

 81-26 



8064 

 79-86 

 76-45 

 73-46 



71-95 



72-21 

 73-12 

 75-22 

 78-62 

 80-79 



77-11 



(+) above 



( — ) below 



mean for year. 



+4-61 

 +4-15 

 + 3"53 

 +275 

 -0-66 



-3'65 

 -5-16 



-4-90 

 -3-99 

 -1-89 



+ 1-51 

 + 3-68 



k2 



