372 Report on the Island of Chedooba. [No. 112. 



paratedfrom one another by their laminoe of ferruginous sand. It was 

 very brittle, with a dull fracture, and smouldered, but would not ignite. 

 Neither from its situation nor its quality does it promise to become of 

 any value. 



Division 4. 



Climate. — Chedooba, in common with the Arracan coast, has been gener- 

 ally considered as possessing a climate peculiarly fatal to Europeans, and 

 the mortality of the Troops who occupied it during the Burmese War has 

 given but too painful cause for the opinion. 



Nevertheless I cannot but think that its insular situation, and its free- 

 dom from that extent of muddy creek, and Mangrove swamp, which pe- 

 culiarly characterizes the coast of the mainland, together with the greater 

 openness of its jungles, must be the occasion of some difference between 

 them, and that in favour of the Island. 



Its seasons are those of the adjoining countries, and may be divided 

 into wet and dry ; the rain commences its visit in the beginning of May, 

 with variable winds and intermittent showers, which, increasing in fre- 

 quency and duration, introduce the deluge which pours down incessantly 

 from the middle of June to that of September, during which period 250 

 inches of water fall. Thence to the month of November is occupied with 

 the gradual taking off of the rains, which from that month cease till the 

 following May brings them round again. 



In every country subject to such periodical rains there are two seasons 

 when the sickness, which is the peculiar one of the climate, prevails, viz. 

 at the commencement and taking off of these rains. Even in those coun. 

 tries which, but more partiality, are subject to a wet and dry season, as 

 Italy, the Levant, and southern shores of the Mediterranean, the same ef- 

 fect is produced, and spring and autumn there, bring with them, their 

 ever accompanying miasma fever. Under the effect therefore of a tropi- 

 cal climate, where the change at this time, in operation throughout the 

 whole vegetable kingdom, is so much more extensive and violent, 

 the effect of the greater developement of noxious vapour, must be neces- 

 sarily looked for; and accordingly these periods are found to be the sickly 

 seasons of Chedooba, and the coast around, and their regular return 

 calls for great care and prudence on the part of the European, for whom, 

 occupation of mind and body, as active and full as regard to unnecessary 

 exposure will permit, may be strongly recommended then, as perhaps at 

 all times, as a valuable addition to other precautions ; as it has frequently 

 been found that our sailors and soldiers, have suffered less from the 



