MANUAL OF THE NILAGIRI DTSTRICT. 



41 



The Nilagirisj from their geographical position, come within 

 the full influence of the south-west monsoon as far as the western 

 and upland tracts are concerned. The other portions are greatly 

 protected by the Doddabetta range and its spurs, which form the 

 dividing wind and water line between the south-west and north- 

 east monsoons. On the other hand those portions wliich are 

 sheltered from the south-west receive the full burst of the north- 

 east monsoon. The former sets in at Ootacamand about the 

 middle of June, the latter towards the end of October. 



During the south-west monsoon the wind usually blows from 

 the west and north-west, gradually trending more and more 

 towards the north and east until October. From the end of this 

 month until the beginning of April the winds blow fairly con- 

 stantly from the east, working round to the west, as the sun 

 travels towards the north. The direction of winds, however, on 

 the plateau is far less constant than might be expected consider- 

 ing the great comparative height and almost insular position of 

 the Nilagiri Mountain range. This variability, apart from local 

 disturbing causes, such as hill, gorge, and valley present, is due 

 probably to the fact that it is rather a headland than an island 

 from which the Western and Eastern Ghdts recede in a northerly 

 and easterly direction respectively. 



The air cuiTents meeting these ranges receive an impulse, 

 turning them southwards. This seems to account for the remark- 

 able phenomenon that for the greater portion of the year the winds 

 blow, more or less, constantly and directly from the north. 



The following table illustrates this : — 



CHAP. IV, 

 PART I. 



Climate, &c. 



Winds. 



Winds at Doddabetta. 



1847. 



February- 

 March 

 Api-il 

 May 

 June 

 July 

 August 

 September 

 October 

 November 

 December 



January 



1848. 



Year .. 



Total 



Table of 

 \Yiii(ia. 



