382 



tre. Ail these different ranges, whilst they pro- 

 tect the plain from the violence of the winds, 

 serve to condense the vapors whicli are subse- 

 quently precipitated in fertilizing showers, their 

 distance at the saipe time preventing that humi^ 

 dity and closeness of the atmosphere, engender- 

 ed by thera, extending to the province. 



On the western side, Province Wellesley is 

 fully exposed to the influence of the sea breezes, 

 and to the regular W. monsoon. The clouds] 

 which accumulate on the peninsular range, are 

 generally attracted thence by the Peak ofKe- 

 dah, whence they pursue their route across th© 

 channel towards the northern extremity of Polo 

 Pinang: here they are again checked by the 

 hills, and descend in showers upon the valley ; 

 but Pulo Tikoos, or Rat island, a little to the 

 northward of Pulo Pinang, isi^till more frequent- 

 ly watered by them, from its lying yet more di- 

 rectly in their track. 



The atmosphere, of Province Wei lesley from 

 its lightness and coolness, resembles that of Ma- 

 lacca, and possesses a great superiority over the 

 close oppressive climate of Pinang. The course 

 of the wind is in general as follows, when it 

 is not opposed, or overcome, by the regular 

 monsoons. 



At day-break a cool and gentle breeze from 

 the east heralds in the sun : the temperature of 

 this may be Mated at 75« of Fahrenheit, and tlie 

 breeze gradually dies away until it is succeeded 

 at 9 A. M. by a calm, whose duration varies from 

 fifteen minutes to two hours, the mean being one 

 hour. A strong sea breeze then sets in, the tern- 



