17 
ward and Westward, the large mountain¬ 
ous Islands, called the Laddas, and the 
high land of Queddah, to the Northward; 
the mountains which run through the Ma¬ 
lay Peninsula effectually protect it on the 
East. Violent squalls are occasionally 
experienced, but they rarely continue for 
more than an hour. 
CLIMATE. 
It unquestionably enjoys the finest cli¬ 
mate in India; the seasons are not mark¬ 
ed with such precision as in other parts 
of Asia: (indeed no one year can be said 
to resemble another) but this very irregu¬ 
larity probably contributes much to the 
pleasantness of the climate. The driest, 
and consequently the hottest weather, is 
generally experienced in January and Fe¬ 
bruary. Thunder storms are common 
throughout the year. In the month of 
B 
Lt I t i 
