The climate, though warm, is perfectly salubrious. The range of the thermometer, in the hottest season, is from 78° to 86°, and in the coldest, from 72° to 81°. The general winds are from south to east, subject to interruptions from the vicinity of the north-west monsoon, which lasts from January to March. No two seasons have been as yet alike, since the formation of the settlement, but until the present they have never had more than an occasional squall of a few hours continuance from the northward or westward.
The fresh water, obtained from wells dug on the isles, is good, wholesome, and abundant. The anchorage is safe—the narrow opening between the reefs of Horsburgh and Direction isles not affording ingress to any heavy sea, as was experienced during a late northerly gale. The channel leading into the inner anchorages has only three fathoms and three-quarters at low water, and is tortuous and narrow for nearly a mile. No vessel drawing more than twelve feet water may safely sail in; but ships requiring heaving down, &c., may be warped for that purpose into the basin inside of Direction island. There can be, however, no occasion for entering the port beyond the outer anchorage, except for safety in time of war. The intricacy of the entrance is then an advantage.
High water is at about half-past four o'clock in the anchorage, on full and change. When the sun is near the equator, the two tides are nearly equal, and rise from three and a half to four feet. When the sun is near the southern tropic, his zenith, or evening, tide rises to from five to five and a half feet, and the morning tide to one and a half and three feet. The contrary happens when he is near the northern solstice.
