AND GEOLOGY OF THE MALAY PENINStrLA, 
109 
ever, monsoon weather prevails. In the two succeeding months, 
especially in May, frequent showers occur, hut tire falls of rain are 
seldom heavy. June is rainy ; squalls from the westward are fre¬ 
quent, and sometimes*violent. In July, August and September, the 
sky is generally overcast; much rain falls alternated with sunshine; 
squalls are also frequent in the two first, accompanied with elec¬ 
trical phenomena. The early part of October is generally clear and 
pleasant; towards the end of the month however the influence of 
the N. E. monsoon is perceived; squalls from the N. occur; dense 
masses of clouds collect; and rain falls in great quantity for days un¬ 
interruptedly, attended with much thunder and lightning. November 
and December are pleasant, cool, delightful months; the morning 
breeze is refreshingly bracing; the heat is moderated by frequent show¬ 
ers and occasional heavy falls of rain, and the air is purer and drier 
than in any other part of the year.”* 
Continued heavy rains sometimes fall, but they seldom last many 
days. An exception occurred towards the end of last year, (1847,) 
when Pinang, for the first time since our occupation of it in 1786, was 
inundated. The flood happened on the 7th November. “ The whole 
island almost was under water. The rivers burst their banks, and 
carried away several bridges, land-slips occured on the hill ground, 
houses fell, and property both public and private was much damag¬ 
ed.”! 
* s Heavy dews prevail throughout the year in clear nights ; fogs 
too are frequent in the mornings, especially during the more rainy 
months. From repeated observations of DanielPs Hygrometer, in 
both moist and dry states of the atmosphere, the average difference 
between the external and internal thermometers, at the point of con¬ 
densation, has been found to be about 10°. The barometer has been 
found to range always about 30 inches, with a daily variation of 
. 08, the maximum being at 9 o’clock a. m. the minimum about 3 
p. The regular tides which prevail in the atmosphere within 
the tropics have been the subject of observation at Pinang. Colonel 
* Dr. Ward’s Contributions to the medical topography of Pinang, p 21. 
Pinang Gazette of 1st January 1848. 
| Dr. Ward’s contributions to the medical topography of Pinang, p. 21. 
