Floods in India in 1849. 



55 



Here we have the air at Madras in the midst of frequent rain, 

 though not the rainy season nearly as dry as it is with us during 

 the fair weather ; while at Aden, June seems the driest. January 

 one of the wettest months of the year. This is one of the most im- 

 portant conditions of climate : observations with the wet-bulb are 

 almost as easily made as with the dry-bulb thermometer — they ought 

 on no account ever to be omitted. 



The following rain returns will shew the amount of fall, in inches, 

 for May, June, and July, on this side of India : — 



Hailstorms usually occur in our dry — most frequently in our hot — 

 weather in India : the most severe hailstorm yet recorded for the 

 year 1849, was that at Jaulnah on the 15th January, though many 

 of much severity happened all over lower Bengal in the months of 

 April and May. Those of the 3d of the month last named prevailed 

 all over India from Ootacamund to Peshawur. A very severe liail- 

 storm occurred at Bassein on the 2d June. The Malwa hailstorm 

 of the 6th and 7th June was unusually late for the season. We 

 now find heavy hail falling at Mahabuleshwar for three days on end 

 on the 27th, 28th, and 29th July, during the very wettest of the 

 season, without thunder or lightning, or storm. 



♦ Up to 15th July. 



