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observed. In some places these soils have a great depth evetl 
on steep hill sides, as may be seen from cuttings made iq the 
formation of a road up Government Hill, where the soil is of a 
reddish yellow or brownish colour, the path being covered by a 
large number of felspar pebbles showing that the granite which 
formed this soil contained felspar and mica in abundance. 
Decomposed rock of this description forms the best soils ; and 
this is apparent from the luxuriant forest growth which clothes 
this hill side. 
75. The climates of Penang and Province Wellesley differ 
in some respects, but both are adapted to all the purposes of 
intertropical agriculture. Hurricanes have never visited either 
of these places, though strong squalls have occasionally done 
much mischief in plantations. Droughts of considerable dura- 
ation occur at intervals. The atmosphere of Penang is more 
loaded with aqueous vapour than that of Province Wellesley, 
owing to the latter being more removed from proximity to the 
hills. The average temperature of Penang is about a degree 
higher than the Province : the dews are heavier perhaps in the 
Province. The northern half of the Province is swept by a 
strong wind during the day and generally by a cool land 
wind at night. The climate of Province Wellesley is 
generally believed to be more healthy ikan that of Penang 
plain, which is attributed to its being more ventilated. The 
temperature in Province WcUesley has been known to fall to 
65° F., mean temperature o 4 enang plain about 80£° ; Pro- 
vince Wellesley 79£°. h mean' annual rainfall of Penang 
plain during the three ye > prior to 1882 was 107-72 inches. 
The mean temperature for the same period 88.8° and the mean 
minimum 75°. 
76. The composition of the primaeval forests of Penang 
differs but little from the other Settlements with the exception 
of a few species which are also found to occur in British Bm- 
mah. And in reference to this it is to be noticed, that as we 
proceed northward, the Burmese and East Indian species gra- 
dually become more plentiful in the Malayan forests. The hill 
ranges formerly contained some very fine timber, but little of 
this now remains, thoug hsecondary growth of considerable size, 
and even patches of good forest, still clothe some of the ravine 
sides. Here a tree of Dy era Costulata recently existed, known as 
the great tree, and, from its position on the hill top, was a land- 
mark to Mariners. This tree had a clear stem of 110 feet to 
the first branch, its base was 30 feet in circumference, and 20 
* feet at a height of 110 feet above ground. There are still 
several good sized, trees of this species in the same neighbour- 
hood, one of which measures 77 feet to the lower branches and 
18 feet in circumference. The wood of this species is white, 
light, easily worked and chiefly used by undertakers for coffins 
and by shoe-makers for clogs. The island contains also those 
valuable species of the Singapore and Malacca forests which 
I have already described. 
77. I estimate the area of existing Crown forests at about 
12,000 acres, ths greater bulk of which is distributed over the 
hill ranges in isolated patches, being most plentiful in the vici- 
nity of Government Hill and the centre of the island generally. 
The- hills and hill slopes adjoining the coasts contain but few 
trees, except such as belong to private parties. I would, how- 
ever, except the neighbouring'islands ; Pulau Jerajak, for 
instance, on which is situated the Leper Asylum, having an area 
of about nine square miles, is densely clothed with tnpber of 
small size. 
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Meteorology. 
Forests. 
