58 PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. [Part I. 



March. — In March the heat continues to increase, 

 Wind N.E. to N.w. the earth receiving more warmth than 



Temperature, 24 hours : it racliatcs or parts with bv cvapora- 



Mean greatest 877° . ■■■ •^ J- 



Mean least . . 73-1° tion. The day becomes oppressive, 

 Rain (inches) ... 2-1 ^^^Q nights unrcfreshing, the grass is 

 withered and brown, the earth hard and cleft, the lakes 

 shrunk to shallows, and the rivers evaporated to dry- 

 ness. Eiu-opeans now escape from the low country, and 

 betake themselves to the shade of the forests adjoining 

 the coffee-plantations in the hills ; or to the still higher 

 sanatarium of Neuera-elha, nearly the loftiest plateau in 

 the mountains of the Kandyan range. The winds, when 

 any are perceptible, are faint and unsteady with a still 

 increasing westerly tendency, partial showers sometimes 

 fall, and thunder befjins to mutter towards sunset. At 

 the close of the month, the mean temperature will be 

 found to have advanced about a degree, but the sensible 

 temperatiu-e and the force of the sun's rays are felt in a 

 still more perceptible proportion. 



April is by far the most oppressive portion of the year 

 Wind N.w. to s.w. ^^^ tliosc wlio remain at the sea-level 



Temperature, 24 hours: of the island.' The temperature con- 

 Mean greatest . 88-7° . . • i • 



Mean least . . . 73-6° tmucs to risc as tlic suu 111 liis northcm 

 Ram (mches) ... 7-4 progress passcs Vertically over the 

 island. A mirage fills the hollows with mimic water ; the 

 heat ill close apartments becomes extreme, and every 

 hvino; creature flies to the shade from the suffocatino; 

 glare of mid-day. At length the sea exhibits symptoms 

 of an approaching change, a ground swell sets in from 

 the west, and the breeze towards sunset brings clouds and 

 grateful showers. At the end of the month the mean 

 temperature attains its greatest height during the year, 

 being about 88° in the day, and 10° lower at night. 



May is signahsed by the great event of the change 

 Wind N.w. to s. w. ^f the mousooii, and all the grand 



Temperature, 24 hours : phenomena wliicli accompaiiv its ap- 



Mean greatest , 87'2° ^ , -l ./ i 



Mean least . . 729° proacll. 



Rain (inches) . .13-3 j^ -g (_"[ifficult for aiiy ouc who has not 



