PLANTS OF PRINCE OF WALES ISLAND. 57 



Soongey Dooa ; In this district, near the shore, is anoth- 

 er beautiful hill, the sides of which swell very gently, and the 

 summit has a view of the whole strait, as well as of the 

 adjacent country. 



Soongey Neebong ; so named from a kind of palm. The 

 road through this district is difficult, consisting of steep ascents 

 and descents, winding among the hills. In this district is a 

 considerable plantation of Nutmeg and Clove trees, belong- 

 ing to the estate of the late Mr. Eoebuck. 



Soongey Clooan ; This district is the richest and most 

 completely cultivated on the Island. It contains the oldest 

 and best Pepper plantations. Here is a large plantation of 

 betel-nut forming on account of the Honourable Company. 

 Opposite to the north-west point of the Island is the small 

 island Pooh Tikoos (or Rat Island). It is rocky, almost bare 

 of vegetation, but produces plenty of oysters. 



Within the straits are the islands Poolo Juraja and Poolo 

 Kra; and at the southern extremity lies Poolo-Remoo, or 

 Tiger Island. All these are woody. On Poolo Juraja is found 

 good lime-stone, and a reddish clay, which being mixed with 

 sand, and spread on the roads, forms an excellent hard surface. 



The climate, as might be expected so near the equator, 

 admits of little variety of seasons, in respect to heat and cold. 

 And these depend, not so much on the meridian zenith dis- 

 tance of the sun, as on the variety of dry or rainy weather. 

 The following abstract of a register of the thermometer for ten 

 months, will show the extent of its variations. 





MOKNING 



Noon 



Evening 





from 



•to 



from 



to 



from to 



April 



80 



84 



80 



87 



80 86 



May 



79 



83 



80 



86 



80 84 



June 



80 



83 



80 



86 



80 84 



July 



79 



83 



81 



86 



80 84 



x\ugust 



77 . 



82 



79 



85 



78 83 



September 



78 



82 



78 



84 



78 84 



October 



78 



81 



78 



84 



78 82 



November 



76 



80 



78 



84 



78 81 



R. A Soc, No. 53. 1909- 



