302 Mr Christie 071 tlie Meteorolgi/, Geology^ S^c. 



I observed at Goa on the 6th of October last year, show, iii a 

 striking manner, what a great influence the Gauts have on the 

 meteorological phenomena of this part of India, and also con- 

 firm the above observations regarding the western breezes of the 

 sbuthem Mahratta country. Large masses of clouds, with 

 lightning and thunder, were observed on the Gauts about mid- 

 day. The clouds gradually proceeded westward, but at a very 

 great altitude ; and, in the evening, they completely concealed 

 the blue sky, stretching far to the west over the sea. The air 

 below continued close and oppressive, and thunder was heard, 

 high over our head, among the clouds that had proceeded from 

 the Gauts. Thus the air, resting on the low country, continu- 

 ed undisturbed, while great hygrometric and electric changes 

 occurred in the atmosphere, only on a level with the summit of 

 the Gauts. 



Fogs in the morning are very common at Darwar, and often 

 present a very remarkable appearance. They invariably (Pro- 

 ceed from the west, and, about surt-rise, are seen rolling, in deilse 

 masses, over the hills. They sometimes appear black, at other 

 times perfectly white, according to the spectator''s situation iii 

 respect to the light. They are generally not very high, and 

 vary much in their form and extent ; sometimes covering a great 

 tract of country, at other times being very partial, and stretch- 

 ing out, as it were, into long bands. When riding out in the 

 morning, I have frequently observed a thick mass of fog oh 

 each side of me, while the intermediate space was clear ; one of 

 the masses having a black, the other a white colour, arising 

 from their different situation in regard to the rising sun. These 

 fogs never last longer than a few hours. 



Having been ordered, by the Bombay government, to keep a 

 register of the weather at Darwar, the following was commenced 

 in January 1827. There ought also to have been a register of 

 the barometer and hygrometer, but the former of these instru- 

 ments was broken in its carriage to Darwar, and the latter 

 could not be procured in India. 



The thermometer was kept in a broad open virandah, at a 

 distance from any wall, and, at the same time, completely in 

 the shade. The spring-water, the temperature of which was 

 tiEiken, was from a well about sixty feet deep. 



