o\ THE RAINFALL OF SINGAPORE. 39 



framed, as has been done for the Astronomer, whereby that which 

 now appears dark, doubtful and difficult, will be made clear, certain 

 and simple; and the perils of the navigator at sea, the devastating 

 effects of hurricanes on land, and the distress and want of famines 

 will be foreseen and provided against with certainty. 



Admiral Fitzroy, in his Weather Book, says : " Having accurate 

 " statistical observations of the various currents of air at selected 

 "' outlying stations shewing pressure or tension, temperature and rela- 

 " tive dryness, with the direction and estimated horizontal force of 

 '' wind at each place simultaneously, the dynamic consequences are 

 " already measurable approximately on geometric principles, and, 

 ''judging by the past, there appears to be reasonable ground for 

 " expectation that meteorologic dynamics will soon be subjected to 

 " mathematical analysis and accurate formulas." And again : " Certain 

 " it is, that although our conclusions may be incorrect and our judg- 

 " ment erroneous, the laws of Nature and the signs afforded to man 

 ' ; are invariably true. Accurate interpretation is the real deficiency." 



It appears from uperficial observations, and the inferences one 

 can draw from having only a very faint idea of this subject, that 

 until at least there are trustworthy records of periods extending 

 over two or three solar cycles, it would be futile to hazard, even by 

 guessing, a rule by which the .Rainfall of Singapore can be calcu- 

 lated upon. If, therefore, this Society will endeavour to collect 

 all possibly accurate returns of the rainfall, &c, it will be doing- 

 great service to those who may study the Meteorology of this part 

 of the world from the tables thus preserved, when this generation 

 shall have passed away. 



Nothing in this paper is intended to dispute or question the 

 accepted and well known fact, that disafforestment of a country 

 does bring about a change of climate by diminishing rainfall, but 

 before concluding, it would be well to urge, for the consideration 

 oi: those who may be interested, the advisability of providing 

 against another result of extensive clearings of forests, viz., the ■ 

 failure of the supply of fuel, not to speak of the timber supply 

 for building, &c, in the future. If disafforestment does not 

 influence the rainfall of this Settlement, it will certainly have some 

 influence on the supply for the above-mentioned demands. The 

 number of local steam engines on land and at sea, consuming large 



