MANUAL OF THE XILAOIRT DISTRICT. 



43 



The following facts will be of interest : — 



Average liainfall, Ootacaiuaiid. 



1829 to 1836 inclusive 



1851 to 1860 do. 



1869 to 1875 do. 



Inches. 

 47-78 

 52-38 

 46-00 



CHAP. IV, 

 PART I. 



Climate, &c. 



The highest rainfall that I have found on record is 63*18 in Average fall. 

 1858-59, the lowest 33-84 in 1832. However, 35-50 inches Extremes. 

 only fell in 1869-70, and 34-65—35-76 inches in 1875-76 and 

 1876-77 respectively. 1 



The localities where the rain gauges are now kept are Rain-gauge 

 Ootacamand, Wellington, Coonoor, Melkunda, Kaity, Kodanad, stations. 

 and Neduwattam. The average fall at each of these points for 

 each month of the year for the quinquennium ending 1874-75 

 will be found in Appendix No. 5 compared with the fall in 

 1875-76 and 1876-77, the years ending 31st July. If the rainfall 

 in the western Kundas were included, the average would be 

 considerably raised. 



The following table exhibits the results : — 



Average Eat nf all. 



With regard to the hygrometric state of the air on the Hills, ^[S)°s'^rvi" 

 Dr. Baikie observes : — tions. 



" The air during the months of January, February, and March is Dr.Baikie'a 

 intensely dry, the points of saturation (or temperature to wliicb the air 

 must be reduced to deposit any part of its moisture) being occasionally 

 as low as 13 degrees, the temperature of the air being 60 degrees. In 



remarks. 



^ Mr. Broughton has recorded some observations as to the amount of organic 

 matter in the rainfall during the north-east and south-west monsoons which are 

 especially important from a health point of view. He found marked differences 

 of organic impurity in rain falling during the south-west monsoon from that in 

 storms from the land side. The south-west raius were nearly absolutely free of 

 organic matter, while rain from the north-east or north-west was charged 

 with organic impurity. The rain washes the air and brings down impurities, and 

 the difference in the healthiness of south-west and north-east wind seasons is in 

 part accounted for by the purity of the air iu one case and its coutaminatiou by 

 terrestrial exhalations in the other. 



