410 Sir Xuniiiin Lockycr suitl I>r. NV . .1. S. LM< ; 



The conclusions already arrived at from bringing together the results 

 of several investigations undertaken with this view may be stated as 

 follows : 



(1.) It has been found, from a discussion of the chemical origin of 

 lines most widened in sunspots at maxima and minima periods, that 

 there is a considerable rise above the mean temperature of the sun 

 around the years of sunspot maximum and a considerable fall around 

 the years of sunspot minimum. 



(2.) It has been found, from the actual facts of rainfall in India 

 (during the S.W. monsoon) and Mauritius, between the years 1877 and 

 1 886,* as given by Blanford and Meldrum, that the effects of these solar 

 changes are felt in India at sunspot maximum, and in Mauritius at 

 sunspot minimum. Of these the greater is that produced in the 

 Mauritius at sunspot minimum. The pulse at Mauritius at sunspot 

 minimum is also felt in India, and gives rise generally to a secondary 

 maximum in India. 



India, therefore, has two pulses of rainfall, one near the maximum 

 and the other near the minimum of the sunspot period. 



(3.) It has been found that the dates of the beginning of these two 

 pulses on the Indian and Mauritius rainfall are related to the sudden 

 remarkable changes in the behaviour of the widened lines. 



(4.) It has been found, from a study of the Famine Commission 

 reports, that all the famines therein recorded which have devastated 

 India during the last half-century (we have not yet carried the investi- 

 gation further back) have occurred in the intervals between these two 

 pulses. 



(5.) It has been found, from the investigation of the changes in (1) 

 the widened b'nes, (2) the rainfall of India, and (3) of the Mauritius 

 during and after the last maximum in 1893, that important variations 

 from those exhibited during and after the last maximum of 188S 

 occurred in all three. 



It may be stated at the same time that the minimum of 1888-1889 

 resembled the preceding minimum of 1878-1879. 



^6.) It has been found, from an investigation of the Nile curves 

 between the years 1849 and 1878, that all the lowest Niles recorded 

 have occurred between the same intervals. 



(7.) The relation of the intervals in question to the droughts of 

 Australia and of Cape Colony, and to the variations in the rainfall of 

 extra tropical regions generally, has not yet been investigated. We 

 have found, however, a general agreement between the intervals and 

 the rainfall of Scotland (Buchan), and have traced both pulses in the 

 rainfalls of Cordoba (Davis) and the Cape of Good Hope. 



* This period waa selected becacse the Kensington observations of widened lines 

 only began in 1879, and the collected rainfall of India has only been published to 

 1886. 



