AUGUST 



See ! the flushed horizon flames intense 



With vivid red, in rich profusion streamed 



O'er heaven's pure arch. At once the clouds assume 



Their gayest liveries ; these with silvery beams 



Fringed lovely ; splendid those in liquid gold, 



And speak their sovereign's state. He comes, behold ! 



MALLET. 



THE transformation scene described in July 

 continues throughout August. Torrential rain 

 alternates with fierce sunshine. The earth is 

 verdant with all shades of green. Most con- 

 spicuous of these are the yellowish verdure 

 of the newly-transplanted rice, the vivid 

 emerald of the young plants that have taken 

 root, the deeper hue of the growing sugar- 

 cane, and the dark green of the mango 

 topes. 



Unless the monsoon has been unusually 

 late in reaching Northern India the autumn 

 crops are all sown before the first week in 

 August. The sugar-cane is now over five feet 

 in height. The cultivators are busily trans- 



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