MONSOONS. 371 



and August, when the south-west monsoons are at their height, 

 is, 



For Calcutta 29.55 inches. 



„ Bombay . 29.G5 



„ Madras 29.73 



The line S.W. represents the mean barometric declivity of the 

 south-west monsoons at their height, and indicates that at their 



Diagram D. 

 0' ^ 5° tat 10" 15° 



Hap 



20' 25" 



northern edge, supposed to be the parallel of 30^ north, the baro- 

 meter stands at about 29.45 inches. This barometric declivity 

 mdicates that the south-west are stronger than the north-east 

 monsoons, and observations show that they are.* 



692. The summer rains of Cherraponjie.—TheEiQ are the winds— 

 the south-west monsoons— which, coming from the sea, carry 

 into the interior rains for the great water-shed of India. They 

 bear with them an immense volume of vapour, as is shown by the 

 rivers, and confirmed by the rain-fall of Cherraponjie, and at 

 126 other stations. Cherraponjie is 4,500 feet above the sea 

 level. ^ It reaches quite up to the cloud region, and receives a 

 precipitation of 537i inches during the south-west monsoon, 

 trom May to August inclusive. Col. Sykes reported to the 

 l^ritish Association, at its meeting in 1852, the rain-fall at these 

 1^7 places, which are between the parallels of 20^ and 34° in 

 India. According to this report, the south-west monsoons pour 

 clown during the three summer months upon this water-shed 29-^- 

 iiiches of rain. The latent heat that is liberated durin- the 



* Dr. Buist. 



2 B 2 



