298 Mr Christie on the Meteorology, Geohgy, ^c. 



devoid of beauty ; being sluggish and muddy. They cut their 

 way through the deep cotton ground, which, in the dry season, 

 forms precipitous banks, deep, black, and bare ; and thus, in 

 many places, the river has more the appearance of a great arti- 

 ficial ditch, than of a natural stream. The banks, which in 

 many places are from twenty to thirty feet deep, are often over- 

 flowed during the rains. Nowhere are to be seen the sloping 

 banks covered with verdure, with trees and flowers, which make 

 river scenery so beautiful in temperate climates. 



Meteorology of the Southern Mahratta Country. 



The most opposite climates are met with in different parts of 

 the southern Mahratta country ; for the western parts, towards 

 the Gauts, may be reckoned among the wettest parts of the In- 

 dian peninsula ; and the eastern among the driest. The aver- 

 age quantity of rain in the latter may be reckoned at from 20 

 to 26 inches ; in the former, a larger quantity than this often 

 falls within one month *. The climate becomes gradually drier 

 as we proceed eastward, from the chain of the western Gauts ; 

 and as this ch^n runs N.NW. and S.SE. we have consequently 

 a drier climate in the northern parts of the district, than in the 

 southern, on the same meridian. Thus, at Soondah, the cli- 

 mate is rainy and cool ; at Gokauk, on the other hand, which 

 is in the same longitude, it is dry and hot. 



A considerable quantity of rain falls as far eastward as the 

 country continues hilly ; but beyond this the supply is scanty 

 and precarious. In August 1824, a good deal of rain fell at 

 Darwar ; while, at the same time, not a drop had fallen fifteen 

 miles to the east, and the wells there were nearly dried up. 

 For three weeks in July and August this year (1 827), nearly 

 incessant rain fell at Darwar, and during the same time not a 

 drop fell in the eastern parts of the district. 



The difference in the habits and mode of life of the inhabi- 

 tants of the western and eastern parts of the district, abundantly 

 testifies how very opposite are their respective climates. In 

 many places, the former are often for weeks during the mon- 



• Vide Statistical Report of part of the Southern Mahratta Country, by 

 the late Dr Marshall. 4 



