former region : there are f"iir or live cool and even cold months during winter, 

 \vli>'ii the elimate ivsemHes that, of South Italy. 



ilimate of North-eastern India: Hen- humidity reigns supreme ; the 

 temperature in sp miner and winter are moderated by the effects of 

 tin- relatively large <|uantities of moisture in the air. 



(4) The climate of tin- Himalayas : It i.- according to elevation, more or 1> 

 temperate, and e \vith frost. sno\v, and bitter winds in winter, and a 



moderate heat in summer. 



The rai::fall depends in the first place on a very simple set of phenomena. 

 'I'll.- extensive plains and table lands of India are in spring and summer heated to 

 a much higher degree than the surrounding sea, while during winter the air 

 nverlving the sea is warmer than that over the dry land in other words, sea 



zes prevail during summer and land breezes during winter. 



In spring which shall here comprise the months of March, April, and May, 



!ii;_die-,t temperature is found over the centre of the peninsula (Nagpur-Hy- 



derabad), the difference being from five to ten degrees compared with the tem- 



.iture at i- coast on the east or west, or at the foot of the Himalayas. 



The air in the centre expands, lifts the higher layers, causes them to flow away 

 mi all sides, and produces a centre of comparatively low pressure. Into this 

 centre presses the heavier atmosphere from the surrounding country, principally 

 from the sea on the south, east, and west, and from the dry table land of Belu- 

 chistan and Afghanistan on the west and north-west. As a general rule, the moist 

 si -a breezes gain the upper hand and bring a rainfall, ranging from three to six 

 inches during this period. The north-western breezes, on the other hand, are 

 dry, and known as the hot winds of the Bombay Presidency, the north-western 

 provinces, and Centre India. With the advance of the season the sea- winds become 

 stronger and stronger, and the air is then drawn from the most distant equatorial 

 region, the great reservoir of moist air; they now cause a copious rainfall, known 



the south-west monsoon. The amount of rain differs, however, very consider- 

 ably according to the configuration of the country ; in other words, according to 

 the degree to which the clouds in their forward passage are forced to rise or .sink 

 a^ain, owing to a rise or fall of the surface. 



As long as the sea-winds are sufficiently strong to keep in check and even 

 force back the north-western winds, all is well for India; but occasionally the 

 i -verse occurs, that is to say, the north-west winds force back the sea- winds and 

 proceed far into the Indian plain and the peninsula. If this ascendancy con- 

 tinues for some time, the rains fail, and scarcity, or even famine, is the result. 



In September the monsoon commences to decline, and by degrees north-east- 

 erly winds replace the south-western and southern breezes. They are dry, except 

 in part of Madras, where they bring heavy rains until December, and are known 

 north-east monsoon winds. Local rains of moderate extent are caused during 

 winter, more especially in the Punjab and North-western Himalayas. 



The total annual rainfall ranges from 4 inches in some parts of Sind to moie 

 than 500 inches in the Khasia Hills, and all intermediate grades are duly re- 

 presented. 



A country which shows such extremes of climate must necessarily show a 

 most varied vegetation. The actual distribution of the forests is principally 

 governed by the rainfall. Where that is favorable, production is great, and the 

 forests are dense ; where it is unfavorable, production proceeds at a slow rate. 

 Again, the nature of the rainfall governs the character of the forests. Where 

 the rains are heavy, the country is generally covered with evergreen forests; 



