52 Floods in India in 1849. 



or violet. At the same time the blaze of white light of the 

 adjoining grass drop, participated in the analogous changes ; 

 sometimes, however, from its considerable size and nearness, 

 presenting a series of tints from red to orange and yellow, 

 or even white, within the same individual globule. 



Gateshaw, September 26th, 1850. 



Floods in India in 1849. By Dr BuiST of Bombay. Com- 

 municated by the Author. 



The rainy season of 1849 was one of the most remarkable that 

 has occurred in India within the present century. On the Western 

 Ghauts no rain fell in May, and but little in June ; and it was not 

 till near the middle of July, or full six weeks after the usual time 

 that the fall became general ; in Goozerat, indeed, famine from ex- 

 treme drought was apprehended till near the close of the month. 

 On the 22d, 23d, and 24th of June, a violent atmospheric com- 

 motion occurred all over the country. On the second of these days 

 the barometer fell almost unprecedentedly low at Calcutta, Madras, 

 Lucknow, Hoshungabad, Trevandrum, Bombay, Kurrachee, and 

 Aden, the first and last two places being 3000 miles apart ; and we 

 presume at all the intermediate stations, though from those named 

 alone returns have been received. The depression of the mercury 

 was infinitely greater than could have been looked for from the 

 amount of storm which followed. At Aden and at Kurrachee rain 

 seemed long promised, but none fell. A severe gale swept the upper 

 part of the Bay of Bengal, extending to Arracan and Madras. The 

 ships Cabrass and Victoria were lost in it, and many others en- 

 dangered ; the ship Lord Dufferin lost her helm, and was in great 

 danger, on leaving Bombay harbour. On this occasion violent rain 

 fell in the Jullundhur Doab, along the line of the Chenaub and 

 Jhelum, at Simla, Delhi, Agra, and Meerut. At Broach eight 

 inches fell in as many hours, and the fall seems to have extended all 

 over India. From this date the barometer began suddenly and 

 steadily to rise ; on the 25th it had reached 29*722 at Calcutta, and 

 on the 27th 29*716 at Bombay, having all at once sprung up nearly 

 half an inch in two days at the former place, and above a third at 

 the latter. 



At this time plentiful showers occurred round Benares and Gha- 

 zeepore, when it faired up almost for nearly a couple of months, to 

 the great detriment of the country. 



At Calcutta, 3 inches of rain fell on the 27th, and 2*40 inches 

 on the 1st, and again on the 9th July, — ^rain and fair weather pre- 



