days lias nevertheless steadily decreased throughout the whole 
of the three periods, thus shewing- that the fall of the last 
period must have taken place in heavier showers, or torrents ; or, 
to be still more explicit, that the fall of 398 inches of the first 
period seems to have been subject to some influence which 
distributed it over 717 days; while that of the last period, 
which is found to be only 10 inches less, seem to have lost this 
influence in a great measure and fell only on 624 days. The 
total loss in number of wet days, since the commencement of 
the first period is equal to about the average number of 
rainy days in one whole year. 
27. In my description of the soil of Singapore, I have 
pointed out that it is of a peculiar nature, absorbing large 
quantities of water during showers, and having a strong ten- 
dency to crack and rent after even a short period of dry 
weather, and that frequent showers evenly distributed are 
necessary to keep it in a state fit for the growth of plants or 
agriculture, and this fact should not be lost sight of in con- 
nection with the great loss in the number of rainy days as 
shewn above. 
28. There is yet another item, which I will refer to before 
closing my observations on the Meteorology of the Island, 
namely, the condensing power of forests on atmospheric vapour. 
Reliable exy)erimeuts have shewn that more rain would be the 
result of greater shade and tree .overing. and this is accounted 
for by the fact that when oud containing vapour comes in 
contact with the cool air ov the forest or woodland, contrac- 
tion takes place, the aqueous particles are forced together and 
fall in the shape of rain ; whereas, were such a cloud to pass 
over the heated air over bare land, it would dissolve itself 
and vanish, and the chances of rain would be lessened. 
29. The primaeval forests of Singapore belong to that class 
known as evergreen tropical forests, which chiefly lie within 
the tropics and in countries subject to heavy annual rainfall, 
and a high state of atmospheric moisture. Many of the trees 
contained in these forests are, nevertheless, deciduous for a 
very limited period, which, in most cases, extend over a few 
days only. The island appears to have been covered with 
forests of this nature till quite recently. 
30. From what can he judged from some old trees which 
still remain on the island, and from what I have seen of the 
primaeval forests in tbe adjacent territory of Johor, the forests 
of the island must have been very fine. Some of the old trees 
have trunks several feet in diameter, straight as arrows, and 
60 to 70 feet to the first ramification of the branches. It is 
also observed that many of the districts of tbe island have 
derived their names from the abundance of the valuable 
kinds of timber found in them. Serayah-wood was abundantly 
produced, a species which always finds a ready market. In 
Australia its excellent qualities have obtained for it the name 
of “ Singapore Cedar,” and in Mauritius, where it is annually 
imported to the ?:alue of about £10,000, it is known as “Bois 
de Singapore,” and for house-fitting and constructive works 
generally, where not expossd to tbe weather, it is one of the 
most easy to work and most durable of woods. This with most 
other valuable kinds is only to he found in very diminished 
quantities on the island, 
31. Those species which are chiefly to be met with in the 
patches of forest remaining on the island, I have divided into 
lists, according to their importance or peculiarities, Where 
c 
Forests 
