542 PHALEN. 



to be ideal during the first part of the year. Although the middle of the 

 day is hot, the hours of the early morning, and those of the evening 

 after 5 o'clock, are cool and the nights are sufficiently cool to render 

 the use of a light blanket necessary. During the month of January 

 there are occasional showers, but the rainfall is light. However, the 

 average number of hours, of sunshine is much above the mean for the 

 year, and the humidity is relatively high. This complex of atmospheric 

 conditions produces a climate which is very pleasant when one is shaded 

 from the sun. Nevertheless, even light exercise such as walking quickly 

 brings on profuse perspiration and as the moisture does not evaporate 

 rapidly on account of the high humidity, it causes considerable discomfort. 

 Even at night, walking is very likely to be associated with disagreeable 

 perspiration. 



As the year advances there is a gradual change in the climate; the 

 temperature, still moderate through February, rises rapidly through 

 the two succeeding months and reaches its maximum in May. The rain- 

 fall reaches its lowest figure in February, rising gradually through March 

 and April, and rapidly in May. With this increase in rainfall there 

 is a corresponding rise in vapor tension, but this increase is not as rapid 

 as that of temperature, so that while the actual amount of vapor in the 

 air is increasing, the relative humidity falls steadily until April, when 

 it bounds upward during the two following months. In number of hours 

 •of sunshine there is a steady rise to include the month of April, after 

 which there is a sharp decline. 



The months of April, May, and June comprise the season which with- 

 out* doubt is the most disagreeable of the year. The temperature reaches 

 its maximum in May, however it is only slightly higher than in the 

 other two months. The relative humidity, low in April, rises rapidly 

 during the two following months. The rains, although they are more 

 frequent, are not sufficient materially to affect the temperature, and in 

 the early part of this season there is a great deal of sunshine. Another 

 ■feature which adds to the discomfort of this season is that it is the 

 time for the change in the monsoons from the northeast to the southwest, 

 and there is no regular monsoon blowing. Such winds as do prevail 

 are likely to be gusty and changeable and to help little toward modifying 

 the temperature. In this season any exercise is acconrpanied by profuse 

 sweating, and the shade of a room frequently is not sufficient to render 

 conditions comfortable. Even at night, it is at times so hot and humid 

 that there is great discomfort trying to sleep, because of excessive perspira- 

 tion. 



With the establishment of the southwest monsoons in June there is 



an increase in the rainfall, which, together with the winds, materially 



affect the climatic conditions. During the succeeding three months rains 



• are of almost daily occurrence and typhoons are liable to occur. The 



temperature still maintains a high mean and the humidity is high. The 



