Page:Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (IA journalofstrait781881roya).pdf/56

 tions, and of the Rainfall, which is now registered at seven stations. Annual Returns are also to be found in the Blue Books.
 * 1) Lastly, but not least, a Register of Rainfall kept by Mr. A. KNIGHT, since 1864, at Mount Pleasant, Thompson Road (about three miles distant from Town), and I must here express my deep obligation to him for his kindness in supplying me with the required information, and for revising the Tables of his range.

Though the rainfall at Singapore is now registered at seven stations, it is not intended to notice the whole of them, nor to act on the means of the total registered rainfall, but only to take the returns of the Criminal Prison, extending over a period of twelve years, as a register of rainfall in the town; and Mr. KNIGHT'S returns, extending over a period of seventeen years, as a register of rainfall in the country, as they are the two best sources of information for the consideration of this question.

From time to time, letters have appeared in the local newspaper, asserting that the extensive clearing of forests in Singapore, and the adjoining mainland of Johor has materially affected the rain. fall. In proof of this, the experience of the "oldest inhabitant" is appealed to, to bear testimony to the incessant daily fall of rain of former years, and the conclusion is hence drawn, that the rainfall will be altogether suspended if something be not, without delay, undertaken to stop this disafforestment of the island and peninsula. It is not the object of the writer to enter into any lengthy discussion on this point. The sole object of this compilation of tables is, to bring together sources of information on this subject which are of value, but are now scattered, extending over many books and Gazettes, buried out of sight, and thus practically lost for convenient reference and research under this head in the future.

But, it may be safely advanced, that Singapore is not dependent on its extent of forests, or contiguity to forests, for its rain supply, but to its geographical position. In the Journal of the Indian Archipelago, vol. 2, page 457, Dr. LITTLE, writing on the Medical Topography of Singapore so far back as 1848—thirty-three years ago,—gives the average annual rainfall as being 92.697 inches; arriving at this conclusion from the records of the Singapore