Northerly winds prevail throughout the month of _October_, occasionally veering to northeast or northwest; but the temperature of the atmosphere is neither so cold nor dry as in the following months, nor does the northerly wind blow so constantly, a few days of southerly wind frequently intervening. The winter usually sets in with three or four days of light drizzling rain. _November_, and the following months, are the most pleasant in the year, at least to the feelings of persons from more northern climes. Though the thermometer is not often below forty, and seldom so low as thirty, the cold of the Chinese winter is often very severe. Ice often forms about one eighth of an inch thick; but this is usually in December or January. The months of _December_ and _January_ are remarkably free from rain; the average fall, in each month, being under one inch; and the average number of rainy days being only three and a half. On the whole, the climate of Canton, but more especially of Macao, may be considered superior to that of most other places situated between the tropics. Tables of observations on the thermometer and barometer for the year 1831. The averages at Canton are taken from the Canton Register. The averages at Macao, from a private diary, kept by Mr. Blettersnan. Column headings: ad: aver. noon. an: aver. night. h: highest. l: lowest. am: aver. 7 a. m. pm: aver. 2 p. m. mh: mean height. Table I. Table II. Table III. Table IV. Thermometer at Thermometer at Barometer at Barometer at Canton. Macao. Canton. Macao. --------------------+--------------+-----------------+----------------- ad an h l |am pm h l | mh h l | mh h l -----+--------------+--------------+-----------------+----------------- Jan. |64 50 74 29|62 65 72 53|30.22 30.50 30.00|30.26 30.50 30.05 Feb. |57 49 78 38|59 59 71 49|30.13 30.50 29.60|30.13 30.40 29.97 March|72 60 82 44|66 69 77 55|30.17 30.50 29.95|30.20 30.48 30.05 April|77 68 86 55|73 75 83 66|30.03 30.25 29.85|30.08 30.27 29.93 May |78 72 88 64|77 78 85 71|29.92 30.10 29.80|29.95 30.06 29.85 June |85 79 90 74|82 84 89 74|29.88 30.00 29.75|29.92 30.00 29.85 July |88 81 94 79|84 88 92 81|29.83 30.00 29.60|29.87 30.01 29.60 Aug. |85 78 90 75|82 85 90 79|29.85 30.00 29.55|29.88 30.02 29.56 Sept.|83 76 88 70|81 84 88 76|29.91 30.10 29.70|29.91 30.05 29.35 Oct. |77 69 85 57|75 78 86 61|30.01 30.20 29.50|30.03 30.19 29.45 Nov. |67 57 80 40|65 68 80 57|30.16 30.55 29.95|30.14 30.36 29.95 Dec. |62 52 70 45|62 65 70 57|30.23 30.35 30.15|30.23 30.31 30.15 The average of rain is the mean of its fall at Macao, during sixteen years, furnished by Mr. Beale. The number of rainy days and continuance of winds, are the mean of four years at Canton, taken from the Canton Register. Column headings: