192 CLIMATE. 



vailing diseases, wliich in some seasons become epidemic, 

 particularly among the natives. 



Malabar and Cayiara. — These provinces form the princi- 

 pal part of the Malabar coast, and extend from Cochin to 

 Sadashevaghur. In February the low country becomes ex- 

 tremely hot, and the vapours and exhalations so dense that 

 it is difficult to distinguish objects at the distance of a few 

 miles. The heats increase during March and April, and 

 with them the quantity of aqueous vapour. On the setting 

 in of the western monsoon in May, the whole is condensed 

 into rain. Fccers, dysentery, and hepatitis are the prevail- 

 irig diseases among the Europeans ; and fevers and ulcers 

 of the lower extremities among the natives. 



Daru-ar District. — The most opposite climates are met 

 with in diiferent parts of the southern Mahratta country ; 

 for the western parts, towards the Ghauts, may be reck- 

 oned among the wettest of the Indian peninsula, and the 

 eastern among the driest. The average quantity of rain in 

 the latter is from twenty to twenty-six inches ; in the former 

 a larger quantity often falls within one month. The climate 

 becomes gradually drier as we proceed eastward from the 

 Western Ghauts ; and as this chain runs north-north-west 

 and south-south-east, we have consequently a drier climate 

 in the northern parts of the district than in the southern, 

 en the same meridian. Thus, at Soondak the climate is 

 rainy and cool ; at Gokauk, on the other hand, which is in 

 the same longitude, it is dry and hot. A considerable quan- 

 tity of rain falls as far eastward as the country continues 

 hilly ; but beyond this the supply is scanty and precarious. 

 In August, 1824, according to Dr. Christie, a good deal fell 

 at Darwar ; while, at the same time, not a drop had fallen 

 fifteen miles to the east, and the wells were nearly dried up. 

 For three weeks in July and August, 1827, the rain con- 

 tinued nearly incessant at Darwar, and during the same 

 time not a drop fell in the eastern parts of the district. 

 The difference in the habits and mode of life of the in- 

 habitants of the western and eastern parts of the district 

 abundantly testifies how very opposite are their respective 

 climates. In many places, the former are often for weeks 

 during the monsoon confined to their own villages, not only 

 by the severity of the rains, but, in many instances, in con- 

 sequence of all communication being stopped by the swollen 



