of the SotUhern Mahratta Country. 301 



very near, the wind suddenly changes, blows strongly from the 

 east, and brings along with it heavy battering rain, and some- 

 times large hail. The wind changes frequently, blowing from 

 all quarters of the compass, until at length it again becomes 

 steady from the west, and the tempest ceases. This is repeated 

 every day for some days, after which the wind continues to blow 

 constantly from the west for five or six months. Storms also 

 occur at the autumnal equinox, but not so regularly nor so 

 violently as those just described. 



Although there is a good deal of rainy weather at Darwar, 

 yet there ai*e seldom such deluges of rain as frequently occur on 

 the coasts ; and the total annual quantity of rain is certainly 

 less than that which falls either on the western coast or on the 

 Gauts. 



It is a curious circumstance, that, while a cool breeze blows 

 during the nights of the hot months in the southern Mahratta 

 country, there is often at the same time a most perfect calm on 

 the western coast ; proving that this is not a sea-breeze, as sup- 

 posed by many. It is probably owing to the peculiar surface of 

 the country, and produced in the following manner. The Gauts 

 and western parts of the country being covered with wood, and 

 more plentifully supplied with moisture than the interior, must 

 consequently be always cooler ; but more especially at night, 

 for the arid plains retain the heat of the day longer than the 

 moist woods. The hot air of the interior, therefore, will ascend, 

 and be replaced by the cool air from the western jungles, and 

 thus give rise to a refreshing breeze, which will continue all 

 night, and as long as it is not counteracted by the prevalent 

 north-east wind, which, being always more powerful during the 

 heat of the day, then gains the ascendancy. Now, as the west- 

 ern parts of the country are 2500 feet above the western coast, 

 the wind which blows over them does not ascend from the coast 

 below ; for it has been already stated that the atmosphere on the 

 coast continues calm : it must therefore be supplied from the 

 same altitude ; and we may accordingly conclude, that a mas& 

 of air above 2000 feet in height rests undisturl)ed on the coast, 

 while that immediately above it, viz. on a level with the summit 

 of the Gauts, is in rapid motion towards the interior. 



The following remarkable and interesting appearances, which 



