HIMMALEH MOUNTAINS. 203 



regular. The annual fall is about fifty inches. Durino- 

 this season, says our distinguished countryman Sir J. Mal^ 

 colm, "the range of the thermometer is very small, seldom 

 falling lower than 72° night and morning, or rising higher 

 than 76° or 77° at noon. Though the mornings" become 

 cooler after the close of the rainy season, there is no very 

 cold weather until the month of December ; it continues 

 until January and part of February. In the latter month, 

 in 1820, at six o'clock A. M., the temperature was 28^. 

 During the hot season which succeeds the parching winds 

 from the northward and westward, that prevail in most 

 parts of India to an intense degree, are here comparatively 

 mild and of sliort duration. The thennometer, however, 

 during the day rises sometimes as high as 98*^ ; but the 

 nights are invariably cool and refreshing." 



Bagur is a hilly region, situated between Malwah and 

 Guzerat. Owing to its extensive and thick forests fevers 

 of a malignant nature prevail during two or three months 

 following the rains : the climate can at no period be con- 

 sidered salubrious. 



Gundwana is a vast wild region, consisting of rmroped 

 hills, uninhabited jungles, and deep watercourses, ravines, 

 and valleys, covered with forests, and pervaded by marsh 

 miasmata. Its climate is generally unhealthy. 



Orissa has many features in common with Gundwana, 

 and a similar climate. 



Hiinmaleh Mountains. — The climate of the valleys and 

 ridges of this vast mountainous country is, as already stated 

 in our observations on the height of the snow-line, much 

 milder than we were led to expect from the conjectures and 

 calculations of philosophers, — vast tracts, which, according 

 to their views, ought to be steril in the extreme, or eternally 

 covered with snow, are, on the contrary, richly clothed with 

 vegetation, ^bounding in animals, and animated by villages. 

 Thus Marang, a large village surrounded by lofty moun- 

 tains, though 8500 feet above the sea, enjoys a mild cli- 

 mate. During eight days spent there by Captain Gerrard 

 the temperature varied from 58° F. to 82° F. ; and flies 

 were very troublesome. The sun, even in July, was scarcely 

 visible above the mountains before 8 A. M., and disappeared 

 behind them at 5 P. M. There were, alternately, light clouds 

 and sunshine, and now and then a little rain, which in this 



