TEMPERATURE OF THE ATMOSPHERE. 169 



one, the solution of which requires a vast series of data, 

 founded on observations continued for a long period of 

 years by experienced meteorologists, providecf with a full 

 complement of the best instruments. In this investio-ation 

 independent of other inquiries, we have to determine with 

 accuracy the inflection of certain lines of equal annual tem- 

 perature, the isothermal lines ; also those of equal summer 

 temperature, the isotheral lines ; and of equal winter tem- 

 perature, the isochemenal lines : we have to fix the relative 

 positions of these lines in regard to each other, and to the 

 meridians and parallels of latitude.* Such inquiries, although 

 most interesting to the professed meteorologist, cannot be 

 indulged in a work of this description with anv prospect of 

 advantage ; and besides, the known data are "by no means 

 so satisfactory as to allow us to enter on the subject with 

 that confidence which would be inspired by the conviction 

 of ©ur having to work with numerous good observation.^ 

 made with accurate instruments. .Such being the case, we 

 shall here simply notice the general range of Indian tem- 

 perature, referring for the temperature of particular prov- 

 inces to the observations under the head of each. 



The range of temperature is very great, extending from 

 the freezing point of water, and even below it, to 130° of 

 Fahrenheit's scale. The highest temperatures are met with 

 in the great Western Desert, and other sandy districts at the 

 level of the sea, or nearly so, as the Circars and the Lower 

 Camatic. Elphinstone observed the thermometer at 112° in 

 the Western Desert ; but he remarks that even where these 

 high temperatures prevail, the evening air is cool to such a 

 degree that the English gentlemen of the embassy used to 

 suffer from cold during the night marches, and we're happy 

 to kindle a large fire as soon as they reached their ground ; 

 yet the sun became so po^verful early in the morning, that 

 they always awoke with a feverish heat which last'ed till 

 sunset. Humaioon, the father of the great emperor Akbar, 

 lost most of his followers in the march over this dreadful 

 desert ; beneath a vertical sun, on burning sands and with- 

 out water, tortured with violent thirst, they were seized with 

 phrensies, burst out into piercing screams and lamentations ; 



* It is even of importance, in reference to climate, to determine by 

 means of springs the isogeothermal lines. 

 Vol. III.— P 



