Page:The tourist's guide to Lucknow.djvu/135

Rh year falls naturally into three seasons—the rainy, from the middle of June to beginning of October; the cold weather, from October to March, and the hot season from April to June. During this season hot winds blow and dust storms are prevalent. The winter rains fall generally towards the end of December and in January, and heavy night dews are very common. The mean temperature is 77.5°F. in the shade. It ranges from 44° in January, the coldest month, to 111° in June, the hottest month. The heat proves most oppressive in the rainy season.

The average annual rain-fall is 89.37 inches.

Oudh, once a Hindu kingdom, became, under the Mogal dynasty, a Muhammadan Nawabship, then a Nawab-viziership, then, under British protection, a Muhammadan kingdom, and lastly an Anglo-Indian Province.

Lucknow, the capital of Oudh, is situated mainly on the right bank of the Gumti, which is navigable for many miles above the town, and, downwards, through its Whole course to its conﬂuence with the Ganges between Benares and Ghazipore. It is spread over an area of 36 square miles, and, in population, Lucknow ranks next