"Supposing the total population UNDER TWELVE were now of age, and wished to marry; out of every 100 males 97 could find wives.
"Supposing the total population OF PERTH were now grown up, and unmarried, 87 out of every 100 males could find wives.
"But supposing the population OF PERTH UNDER TWELVE were grown up, and wished to marry, out of 100 FEMALES, only 85 could find husbands."
The temperature of the atmosphere is exceedingly dry, and therefore the heat is not oppressive, though the thermometer may stand at a high degree.
A rainy day in February or March is an extremely rare occurrence at Perth, though not unusual at Australind, a hundred miles southward.
In the hottest weather, farm-labourers work all day in the open air, and feel no more inconvenience than reapers do in England. This is owing to the dryness and elasticity of the atmosphere.
I have no recorded observations of a late date, but the following table is extracted from the journal of an obliging friend, Robert Dale, Esq., who, when a Lieutenant in the 63d regiment, was stationed some years in the colony.
The thermometer was kept in a cool house at Perth, from March, 1830 to June 1831.
MONTHS. A B C D E F REMARKS.
1830
March . . .28 . . 2 . . 1 . .88 . .71 . .58
April . . .23 . . 0 . . 7 . .87 . .70 1/2. .54
May . . . .17 . . 6 . . 8 . .84 . .64 1/2. .45 . .Fine weather at commence-
ment of this month.
June . . . 18 . . 5 . . 2 . .76 . .56 . .40 . .Five days not accounted
for.
July . . . 14 . . 9 . . 8 . .65 . .49 1/2. .30
August . . 9 . . 8 . . 7 . .76 . .57 . .38 . .Seven days not accounted
for.
September .17 . . 2 . . 4 . .80 . .62 . .44 . . Ditto ditto.
October . .19 . . 5 . . 6 . .78 . .62 . .46 . .One day not accounted for
November . 23 . . 3 . . 4 . .93 . .73 1/2. .54
December 26 . . - . . 5 . 103 . .82 1/2. .62 The thermometer was lower
than what is marked in
the minimum column.
1831
January 28 . . - . . 3 . 106 . .87 . .68
February 26 . . 1 . . 1 . 102 . .82 . .62
March 30 . . - . . 1 . 96 . .78 . .60
April . . .28 . . - . . 2 . .98 . .73 . .48
May . . . .21 . . 2 . . 8 . .78 . .61 . .44 At this season frequently
a heavy dew during the
night.
June . . . 14 . . 9 . . 7 . .70 . .52 . .38
A - No. of Fine Days.
B - No. of Rainy Days.
C - No. of Showers
D - Maximum Height of Thermometer
E - Medium Height of Thermometer
F - Minimum Height of Thermometer