OJS THE KAIJSFALL OF SINGAPORE. 37 



when there in a turn, a " backing down " and " back to back" of 

 the North-East and South-West winds, which differs, of course, 

 according to latitude. In higher latitudes, the North-East monsoon 

 may be said to have fairly set in during October, but for our low 

 latitude it may roughly be put down as being established only in 

 November. From November to the end of January, the North-East 

 wind is blowing steadily ; from February to April the struggle be- 

 tween North-East and South- West monsoons commences, and the 

 result is variable breezes ; from May to July, the South- West 

 monsoon is the prevailing wind, losing its steadiness from August, 

 till it is lost again in the next North-East monsoon by the end of 

 October.* 



Acting, therefore, on this natural division of seasons, a table has 

 been prepared shewing the rainfall of each quarter (Table VIII.) 

 thus arranged, and it will be noticeable, that the fall of the first 

 portion of the North-East monsoon is (with only one exception in 

 eleven years' registration) uniformly greater than the corresponding 

 portion of the South- West monsoon ; while the second half of the 

 North-East monsoon is less than the corresponding season of the 

 South- West ; and that the fall of rain for the entire North-East 

 monsoon is on the whole greater than that during the entire South- 

 West: which may perhaps be accounted for by the North- East 

 monsoon coming over a large watery expanse, unbroken by any high 

 lands, whereas the rain-bearing clouds of the South- West monsoon 

 are intercepted to a great extent by the island of Sumatra in our 

 Southern and Western vicinity. 



Under the present limited knowledge of Meteorology, it is al- 

 most impossible to lay down definite rules for guidance in making 

 forecasts of weather except with the aid of the telegraph. f Men 

 of science with skilfully arranged, delicate, sensitive instruments 

 to detect every change of weather, <fcc, have devoted many years to 

 its study, only to find themselves baified. The Astronomer is far 



* If it were possible to keep a constant hourly register of the wind as re- 

 gards its direction, &c, the duration of each monsoon, and the changings from 

 one to the ether would bu better understood. 



t In / merka (United States) and in Europe, telegraphic reports of th°. state 

 of the weather from various parts are received hourly at the head offices, and 

 sometimes preparations can be made against impending bad weather. Some 

 years back, a proposal was made from Amoy to arrange for a daily telegraphic 

 report from Singapore and Batavia, but it has not come to anything. 



