MONSOONS. 181 



This lasts for several days ; after which the sky clears, 

 and discovers the face of nature changed as if by enchant- 

 ment. Before the storm the fields were parched up, and 

 except in the beds of the rivers scarcely a blade of vegeta- 

 tion was to be seen ; the clearness of the sky was not inter- 

 rupted by a single cloud, but the atmosphere was loaded 

 with dust, which was sufficient to render distant objects 

 dim, as in mist, and to make the sun appear dull and disco- 

 loured, till he attained a considerable elevation ; a parching 

 wind blew like a blast from a furnace, and heated wood, 

 iron, and every other solid material, even in the shade ; and 

 immediately before the monsoon this wind had been suc- 

 ceeded by the still more sultry calms. But when the first 

 violence of the storm is over, the whole earth is covered 

 with a sudden and luxuriant verdure ; the rivers are full 

 and tranquil ; the air is pure and delicious ; and the sky is 

 varied and embellished with clouds. The effect of the 

 change is visible on all the animal creation, and can only 

 be imagined in Europe by supposing the depth of a dreary 

 winter to start at once into all the freshness and brilliancy 

 of spring. From this time the rain falls at intervals for 

 about a month, when it comes on again with great violence, 

 and in July the rains are at their height ; during the third 

 month they rather diminish, but are still heavy ; and in 

 September they gradually abate, and are often entirely sus- 

 pended, till near the end of the month, when they depart 

 amid thunders and tempests as they came. 



Such is the monsoon in the greater part of India. It is 

 not, however, without some diversity, the principal feature 

 of which is the delay in its commencement, and the dimi- 

 nution of the quantity of rain as it recedes from the sea. 

 It is naturally most severe near the sea, from which it draws 

 its supplies, and is exhausted after it has passed over a great 

 Tract of land. For this reason the rains are more or less 

 plentiful in different districts according to their distance 

 from the sea, except in those near high mountains, which 

 arrest the clouds, and procure a larger supply of rain for 

 the neighbouring tracts than would have fallen to their share 

 if the passage of the clouds had been unobstructed. 



The obstacle presented to the clouds and winds by the 

 mountains has another effect of considerable importance . 

 The south-west monsoon blows over the ocean in its natu- 



Vol. III.— Q 



