MADRAS PRESIDENCY. 191 



from November to the setting in of the rains, and the un- 

 healthy season during the period of the rains, and a short 

 time after their termination. The following short view of 

 the climate of particular provinces will afford to the reader 

 a general conception of the healthiness and unhealthiness 

 of the different provinces of Hindostan.* 



I. MADRAS PRESIDENCY. 



« The Carnatic. — The climate of the Camatic may be gen- 

 erally characterized as dry and hot. The range of the 

 thermometer at Madras is usually from 72° to 92° ; but 

 sometimes, during the hot months of May and June, it is as 

 high as 98° and even 105°. In January, February, March, 

 and April, the monthly mean is from 77° to 86° ; the ex- 

 treme variation in each month is usually from 15° to 22°. 

 In May, June, July, and August, the monthly mean tem- 

 perature is usually about 91°, 90°, 88°, and 87°, respect- 

 ively, the extreme variation being generally from 18° to 23°. 

 During September, October, November, and December, the 

 ijionthly mean falls progressively from 85° to 77° or 76°, 

 December being generally the coldest month. The extreme 

 variation in these months is from 13° to 18°. The hot 

 and windy season of May, June, and July is generally the 

 most healthy : sickness prevails most about the commence- 

 ment of the monsoon, or from August to November. Some- 

 times, hov/ever, it is greatest in December and January, and 

 at other times in June and July. The prevailing diseases 

 are fever, dysentery, and hepatitis or li.ver complaint. 



Travancorc. — The weather of this province, which is sit- 

 uated at the south-western extremity of the peninsula, is 

 usually hot. Hea%7^ falls of rain take place between June 

 and December. After these showers the sun generally 

 shines, and produces a disagreeable moist heat. The pre- 

 vailing diseases among the Europeans are hepatitis and dys- 

 entery ; and among the natives fevers and 7tlcers of the 

 lower extremities. 



Counbetoor. — This country is upon the whole healthy, 

 and the houses of the native cultivators more comfortable 

 than in many parts of the peninsula. Fevers are the pre- 



* The view of the climate of the provinces we owe chiefly to Aanesley, 

 Jameson, Young, Brander, and Christie. 



