49 



25. In this connection there are two prevalent notions which 

 deserve some notice. These are (1) that the 

 rainfeif "* df'crease of rainfall has scnsiblj diminished of late years, 

 and (2) that the "fertility of the soil, under 

 the improvident and non-restorative systems of native cultiva- 

 tion, has deteriorated." Both these notions have been shown, 

 by scientific men who have given close attention to the subject, 

 to be unfounded to a great extent. The prevalence of these 

 impressions is sufficiently accounted for by the habit of old 

 people in all countries of asserting that " in the days of their 

 youth the fields were greener and the sun warmer" (or as we 

 should say in India '• less intense "). We have statistics of the 

 rainfall for some stations for the last 80 years, and they do not 

 show that there has been any appreciable diminution in the 

 quantity of annual rainfall during this period. The complaint 

 of deficient rainfall is also, it must be remembered, not a new 

 one. The following passages extracted from Buchanan's 

 '' Journey " in 1800 show that people complained in much the 

 same way then, that they do now. " Tarkeri (Coimbatore 

 district). The people say that since the death of Hyder {i.e.^ 

 since 1782 or for 18 years) they have had one year with a 

 proper fall of rain. This year there has been abundance, but it 

 came too late by two months." " Dharapnram. Owing to the 

 want of rain and of stock the farmers are not able to cultivate 

 all that they rent, &c." " Pryapattana, G-rishmaritu (summer 

 season) contains the two months including the summer solstice. 

 It is said that formerly during this period the weather used to 

 be constantly clouded, with a regular unremitting drizzling 

 rain ; but for the last half a century such seasons have occurred 

 only once in 4 or 5 years ; and in the intervening ones, although 

 the cloudy weather continues, the constant rain has ceased, 

 and in its place heavy showers have come at intervals of 3 or 

 4 days, and these are succeeded by some thunder. Varsharitu 

 (rainy season). Formerly the rains used to be incessant and 

 heavy; of late years they have not been so copious oftener 

 than once in 4 or 5 years ; still they are almost always sufficient 

 to produce a good crop of grass and dry grains, and one crop 



-- A third impression which is prevalent, though not confined to this country, is that 

 men in past times were giants in stature, had more robust health and lived longer than 

 their degenerate descendants do now. In England it was currently believed that the 

 knights of the middle ages were men of great stature, until it was shown that the armour 

 worn by them was too small to fit the present race of men in the upper classes of 

 society. In European countries, the average duration of life has increased owing to 

 diminution in infant mortality. It may be that the diminution of risks to life has had the 

 efEect of prolonging to adult age frail lives which under the old conditions would have had 

 no chance of surviving to that age, but ad the conditions favorable to the life of frail 

 infants ar? also conditions which diminish the risks to which fairly healthy persons are 

 subject, their general effect on the whole population cannot be other than beneficiaL 

 These remarks, »in so far as the present conditions differ from the past, are equally appli- 

 cable to this country. 



7 



