Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924024153987).pdf/579

 GON case than their domesticated relations is butchery of very excellent beef.

501

and

if to

shoot

them

is

butchery,

it

Sheep and fowls may be procured in almost any numbers, and at a low the north. Both are of very small breeds, but good for the table.

price, in

The average recorded

rainfall in the last five years, i. e., from June 1866 June 1871, has been 41-68 inches the heaviest in EainfaU for last five any one year, 59-5 inches, the lightest, 23 inches. The ^**'^^" returns from Begamganj tahsil are so much lower than those from other parts of the district, that I doubt their accuracy, and am

to



inclined to think that the real average cannot be less than 45 inches. The heavy rains commence early in June, and continue with slight interruptions to the end of September or middle of October. Showers fall in every month of the year, and particularly in February and March. Owing to the proximity of the hills, the rains are more assured and less subject ta violent variations than in more southerly districts.

Some further facts about the rainfall may be given. The average for the nine years, 1865 to 1873, is also 41 inches that for 1874 is not given, because the returns are obviously incorrect. The native registrars are apt to record tenths of inches as inches, and to note carelessly, or not at all, in heavy weather.

The

upon famines may

also be noted. The last two they were preceded by the droughts of 1868 and 1873, as indeed that of 1865 was by the deficient rainfall of 1864. It will be observed that the rainfall of 1868 was not very deficient This has been treated at length in quantity, but it was badly distributed in the Bahraich and Fyzabad articles. In 1868-69 there was no rain at all from September 21st, 1868, till March 1869, and then only showers the rain in September also was not sufficient, the kharif crop and the rabi were both therefore scanty. rainfall in its effects

scarcities

were 1869 and 1874





The features of 1873 need not be dwelt upon, as they are sufficiently The high prices which resulted from these apparent from the table. scarcities will appear under the heading Agriculture, Chapter III. Average fall of rain in Gonda

1865

district.

Inohef,

Years.

_