AND GEOLOGY OF THE MALAY PENINSULA. Ill 
on the plains were preserved at a great expence by artificial irriga¬ 
tion, and in spite of every care many trees in unfavourable soils died. 
Betelnut and fruit trees perished in great numbers. The riee crops 
suffered severely. The supply of water progressively diminished, 
and the whole country assumed an arid aspect never before witness¬ 
ed, and appearing to the inhabitants, accustomed to perpetual ver¬ 
dure, to be out of the ordinary course of nature * 
At Malacca, according to Dr. Ward, the temperature of the whole 
year does not vary more than 14° or 16° Fall, being seldom higher 
than 88° and sometimes as low as 74°. The medium temperature, 
calculated from a daily register for 3 years, was found to be 80°. 
The climate approximates to that of Singapore in the frequency of 
showers, but the atmosphere is in general much less humid. 
At Singapore the thermometer ranges from 68° to 92°, and averages 
82° .j- The climate is very humid, and rain falls frequently. J The an¬ 
nual quantity varies considerably, being affected by the irregular oc¬ 
curence of heavy rains at different periods of the year. The average 
annual fall is perhaps about 90 inches. The proper season of heavy 
rains, which sometimes, hut very rarely, continue without intermis¬ 
sion for several days, extends over November, December and Janu¬ 
ary. Xu the Penny Cyclopaedia, which contains so many admirable 
geographical articles, it is stated that “ the southern portion of the 
western coast of the Peninsula, as well as the low eastern coast of 
Sumatra, is perfectly sheltered against both monsoons, the N. E. and 
S. W. In this country accordingly the regular succession of dry and 
wet seasons is unknown. Showers of rain fall in every month of the 
year, but more abundantly in our summer.” Instead of saying that 
* In our retrospect of 1846 we remarked on the peculiarity of the sea¬ 
sons, the rains having continued up to the end of that year. On this occa¬ 
sion we have to notice a similar occurrence. During the last five or sis 
years the Climate appears to be undergoing a gradual change. The dry sea¬ 
son for three years past has not been so prolonged. Last year there could 
scarcely be said to be any, and the temperature both during 1846 and 1847 
was at times considerably lower than it was during any part of, at least the 
eight or ten preceding years.” Pincing Gazette of 1st. January 1848. 
Mr. Balesticr tells me he has observed it as low as 66°, so that the 
range nearly embraces the ranges of both the plain and mountains of Pinang. 
t Upon an average rain probably falls about half the number of days in 
the year. 
