474 j\Ir. W. Jesse on the 



ture in the suii^s rays^ nor the lowest on the grass, since 

 I have not full data by me; but when I state that the former 

 is sometimes 180 and that the latter sinks to 20° in the 

 cold weather, it will be realized that we are subjected to 

 considerable extremes. The '■ hot " weather extends from 

 about March 20th till the rains break — towards the end of 

 June. The ten days or so before the monsoon are usually 

 particularly trying, and those who can do so endeavour to 

 take casual kvave and make tracks for the nearest hill-station. 

 During the intense heat dust-storms are frequent, and the 

 "^ loo/^ or hot west Avind, fills the air with sand, causing a 

 lurid haze to obscure the sky. The advent of the monsoon 

 is usually heralded by lieavy thunderstorms, and when once 

 the first burst has fallen the temperature drops. So long 

 as it rains, the weather is more or less endurable, in spite 

 of insect plagues and fever, which is always more or less 

 prevalent at this season, but once the clouds clear away 

 and a " break '' occurs everything is enveloped in a steam- 

 bath. From November 15th to the beginning of March 

 is the '' cold " weather par excellence. The climate is 

 delightful, and the nights are cold enough to admit of the 

 collection of pit-ice — though, since the advent of the 

 " machine,'^ that method has fallen into disuse. This is, of 

 course, the shooting-season. Geese, Ducks, and Teal abound 

 on the various stretches of water, while Snipe and myriads 

 of Waders and other water-fowl are found along the edges. 

 Fields and topes swarm with migrants, many of them of 

 surpassing beauty. 



The general aspect of the Division is a flat cultivated plain, 

 interspersed with jheels, mangoe-topes, maidans, and nullahs. 

 In some localities there are stretches of dhak [Butea frondosa) 

 jungle, very beautiful when in full bloom, intermingled Avith 

 corounda, in which nilgai, hares, and partridges are to be 

 found. Unfortunately, much of this jungle is disappearing, 

 and with it the game, which of late years has been terribly 

 thinned by the depredations of the lower castes — Chamars, 

 Pasis, Bhatiis, and Ahirs. Low-class Mahomedans, native 

 Christians, and Eurasians also slaughter much game indis- 

 criminately for food. 



