INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. 



249 



where heavy and long continued, commencing in May or the 

 beginning of June, and lasting till November, and amounting 

 at Tavoy to 208 inches, and at Maulmain to 175. In the more 

 northern parts the winter is dry, the north-east wind being 

 deprived of its moistm-e by high ranges of mountains. South 

 of Tavoy the winters are more humid, and rain is of frequent 

 occurrence at all seasons. 



The vegetation of Tenasserim is a continuation of that 

 flora which, commencing in Sikkim and Bhotan, is continued 

 throughout the Malayan Archipelago. Oaks and Diptero- 

 carpi are very common ; and a pine, probably P. Sinensis, 

 grows on the mountains north of Martaban. Calami, Zalacca, 

 and other tropical palms, are abundant in humid jungles, and 

 enormous bamboos in more open places. Teak is common 

 in the interior, but has its southern limit in 15° N. lat., 

 where the winters become too humid for its growth. The 

 Amherstia nobilis, one of the most remarkable and local trees 

 in the province, has hitherto been found only on the banks of 

 the Salueen river ; Barclaya longifolia, a remarkable genus of 

 water-lilies, is confined to this province and the adjacent one 

 of Pegu ; and the Melanorrhma usitatissima, or black varnish 

 tree, abounds in many parts. 



Dr. Falconer, in his able report on the teak forests of Te- 

 nasserim, gives some valuable remarks on the vegetation of 

 the province, and the following list of prevalent timber- 

 trees : — 



