152 



On the Climate, Productions, $*c. of Singapore. 



details, however, would hardly suit your Journal, and I have 

 therefore limited the abstract to the items of more general interest. 



The statement as to the hours of rain, and the hours of sun- 

 shine, are of course mere approximations. In regard to the thun- 

 der, the difficulty is still greater. Some would understand " a 

 peal of thunder" one way, and some another. My object was to 

 record the number of times it thundered, without reference to the 

 loudness of the report. In many instances I should, perhaps, 

 have conveyed my impressions better by calling them a series of 

 rumblings rather than distinct peals. We very seldom had what 

 would be called in the United States a heavy thunder storm. In 

 regard to the hours of rain and sunshine, and peals of thunder, 

 the register pretends to nothing more than guessing. And yet 

 to some, on these points, the mere guess of a person on the spot, 

 recorded from day to day, for several months, may be interesting. 

 The thermometer was placed in an open veranda, to which the 

 external air had free access at all times. The cup for evapora- 

 tion was suspended by the side of the thermometer. 



The observations extend from Nov. 1, 1839, to Feb. 28, 1841. 

 Taking the year 1840 by itself, the register gives the following 

 results for the year. 



Mean temperature, 



Highest 



12 A 



Lowest " 



Mean daily range, ... 



Whole range, .... 



Rain, (of which ^ fell between 6 and 



Evaporation, .... 



Days on which it rained, 



Hours of rain, .... 



Hours of sunshine, 



Rumblings or peals (?) of thunder, 



The climate of Singapore is an exceedingly pleasant one. The 

 frequent rains throughout the whole course of the year, together 

 with the constant sea breezes, free it in a great measure from the 

 sultry heat of most tropical countries. The general distribution 

 of rain throughout the year, has the happiest effect on vegetation, 

 keeping it constantly fresh, and green. There is no rainy season 



80.09° Fah. 

 90.00 

 71.50 

 9.34 

 18.50 

 .) 93.36 inches. 

 39.00 " 

 189 

 494 

 2054* 

 1050 



Making an average of nearly six hours of sunshine for each day in the year. 



