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 VIU

INTRODUCTION.

for the following years are given

1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869 1870 1871 1872 1873 1874

Inches.

24 34 22 53 23 38 60 65 40 81 43

showing an average of nearly 40 inches. The drying up of the rains, which a powerful sun accomplishes with great rapidity, is followed by three of the most delicious months that any country in the world can show. During November, December, and January the climate falls little, if at all, short of actual perfection. The nights and mornings are cold and bracing, and though away from the ground the freezing-point is never reached ; large quantities of ice are collected in the shallow pans which are exposed for that purpose. The middle of the day is of a bright and temperate heat, which allows the sportsman, protected by a pith hat, to pursue his game on foot all day without danger and without distress, and the keen air of the evening permits the enjoyment of a blazing camp fire. The continual fine weather is ordinarily broken by a light rainfall at the end of December or beginning of Januaiy, which is of incalculable benefit to the young spring crops, and if succeeded by another moderate shower just before they ripen, secures a plentiful harvest. In February the heat begins to increase, and violent winds blow from the west, carrying clouds of scorching dust. It is towards the end of this month, when the hopes of the agriculturist are close on fulfilment, and the mango trees are covered with flower, that hail occasionally falls, cutting off the stalks of wheat and barley close to the ground and destroying every germ of fruit. This curse, however, if terrible in its ravages, is usually confined in its sweep, and rarely does more than carve a well-defi.ned path for no very considerable

,,

distance.

In March the crops are cut, and with the baring of the ground the hot weather sets in. The prevailing wind south of the Gogra is then from the west. The atmosphere is lurid with heat and thickly laden with fine grains of dust swept up from the parched plain. The torrid desolation which reigns without enhances the contrast afforded by the comparative coolness which screens of scented grass filling every doorway and