58 PLANTS OF PRINCE OF WALES ISLAND. 





Morning 



Noon 



Evening 





from to 



from to 



from to 



December 



75 80 



80 86 



76 82 



January 



75 78 



85 91 



77 82 



In the months of September, October and November was 

 much heavy rain. From the middle of December, to the 

 beginning or middle of March, is the driest Season. The heat 

 in the middle of the day then rises high, but the nights and 

 mornings are cool. During the remaining six months, frequent 

 showers fall, which cool the air, but there is no heavy or long 

 continued rain. In clear weather, the morning from a little 

 after sun-rise, till ten or eleven o'clock, is usually sultry : but 

 about that time, the sea breeze sets in, to temperate the heat, 

 and restore the elasticity of the atmosphere. And it is remark- 

 ed that exposure to the sun after that hour, is less hurtful than 

 before. 



The temperature on the top of the hill is at all times 

 about ten degrees lower than that on the plain. Hence, dur- 

 ing the dry season, convalescents derive great benefit from a 

 residence on the hill ; the journey to which from the Town, 

 may be performed in one hour and three quarters. But in 

 rainy weather the hill is frequently enveloped in a thick fog, 

 which is hurtful to invalids. A fog is hardly ever known to 

 reach the point on which the Town is built. 



For some years after his Island was ceded to the English 

 Government, during the process of cutting down the woods 

 and clearing the ground, the place was found to be unhealthy. 

 Fever and dysentery, with obstructions of the liver and 

 spleen w T ere prevalent and often fatal. But at present, there 

 is probably no Settlement in India where Europeans enjoy 

 better health, or can endure with impunity more exposure to 

 the vicissitudes of the weather. 



The number of inhabitants may be safely estimated at 

 20,000. Of these at least one third are Chinese, who are 

 divided into two classes. Those from the province of Canton 

 are chiefly artificers, and the people from Chin-chew are em- 

 ployed in the cultivation of the ground. These two classes 



Jour. Stra' Branch 



