202 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



there are no other high mountains, unless we call 

 the isolated 1500 feet peaks of Palitana such, and 

 one of the Burda Hills near Porebunder, which is a 

 little higher. But there are wild hills in the north- 

 east, and stretching from Girnar in the direction of 

 the sea, with a few peaks of about 1000 feet. The 

 plains are in great part under pasture and the cultiva- 

 tion of Indian cereals and cotton. There are large 

 stretches of jungle and of barren land ; and in the 

 north, where the salts of the Runn of Kutch encroach, 

 the plain is white, as with hoar-frost, except during 

 the south-Avest monsoon, when Kathiawar becomes an 

 island. 



Very different, too, is the climate from that of 

 either Ireland or Scotland ; but as an Indian climate, 

 it may be said to be delightful. Ay lea gurm, or 

 "hot as fire," in March, April, and May, that season 

 is not an unhealthy one ; the hot winds are not bad, 

 and the nights are xisually tolerable. Still this is a 

 hot season. Lieut. Macmurdo, in his report of the 

 2d Oct. 1815, remarks naively of it: "The climate 

 of the peninsula is, in general, pleasant. In the 

 hottest weather the thermometer is seldom above 

 110 in a tent, although generally above 104 or 

 102." Within reach of the south-west monsoon, 

 but not exposed to its full force, the heats of sum- 

 mer are tempered by clouds and rain ; and, though 

 steamy September and October are very unhealthy, 

 there is a long delicious cold season, extending from 



