TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION E. 1125 
Third, the comparatively dry lowland plains of the Carnatic between the Ghats and 
the Bay of Bengal. 
The year, for Southern India, is also divided into three seasons: the south-west 
monsoon, from May to September; the north-east monsoon, from October to 
February ; and the hot season of March, April, and May, between the two mon- 
goons. 
The south-west monsoon is shown to be the most important fact and factor of 
the climate of Southern India. The wind blows very strongly for four months oyer 
the Arabian Sea from the south-west. On nearing the coast of Southern India it 
becomes more of a westerly wind, and retains this direction across the country to 
the Bay of Bengal. When it strikes the west coast and mounts the bairier wall of the 
Western Ghats it drops most of its moisture in torrents of rain, by which the 
eastward-flowing rivers are flooded as well as the lowlands of Malabar. On the 
table-lands east of the Ghats it is strong, cool, and showery, but gradually becomes 
drier and warmer, and reaches the Coromandel coast as a dry and hot land wind— 
a veritable siocco. In the Bay of Bengal it regains its northward course, and the 
cause of its deflection therefrom in crossing Southern India is not quite clear. 
After a short interval the north-east wind sets in, usually bringing with it some 
heavy spells of rainy weather, and lasts with little interruption till February. The 
whole of the country east of the Western Ghats benefits from these rains, which 
fill the rivers and reservoirs and moisten the unirrigated tracts sufficiently to 
enable what is called the cold-weather crop to be grown. The hot season sets in 
in March, rapidly increasing in intensity till the return of the south-west monsoon. 
It is tempered, however, by the sea breezes, which are felt far inland. The most 
agreeable time for visiting India is from October to March ; but the naturalist, the 
physiographer, and the scientific observer need not be deterred by the fear of any 
danger incidental to a prolonged tour in Southern India, as, by taking advantage 
of the great variety and agreeable nature of the climates afforded by the high 
plateaux and hill ranges, the whole year may be spent in a comparatively cool, 
healthy, and enjoyable climate. 
The author suggests a tour which embraces some of the most noteworthy 
features in the south of India. 
Proceeding by sea to Karwar, near Goa, note about the only sheltered harbour for 
ships south of Bombay, favourably situated opposite a gap inthe W. Ghats. Land- 
ing at Hondwar, observe its fine tidal estuary and the extraordinary surf formed on 
the bar at the ebb of spring tides. Now ascend the ghdt, or pass, near here, and 
visit the splendid Gersappa Falls, where the river Sharavati leaps down at one 
bound over a sheer precipice 800 feet, in the midst of magnificent wooded moun- 
tain scenery. Observe that the Western Ghats are very steep or precipitous on their 
western face only, and can hardly be called a range of mountains, but are rather 
a line of buttresses to the Maistir highland plateau. The word ghdt simply 
signifies a pass or passage, and amongst the natives of India is restricted to that 
meaning. Proceeding eastwards, visit the high undulating plains of Maisur, called 
in the neighbourhood of the Ghats Malndd, or hill country. Bednor, in the 
Nagar Malnad, the former capital of the local chieftain, a place in ruins now, and 
almost deserted, is worth a visit to see how soon a town of 100,000 houses and 
perhaps half a million of inhabitants can be obliterated. After a glance at Maisur 
and the Kabéri Falls, the port of Mangalore is visited, to study the shifting of the 
river mouth and other points of interest, the return to the high lands being made by 
the next pass up into Kurg (Coorg), which for the beauty of its highland scenery 
and general interest may compare with any such district in the world. 
Continuing southwards, the next highland district along the brow of the 
Ghats is Wainaid, somewhat similar to the Malnad, but not so mountainous as 
Kurg. It is notable for the British coffee planting industry and the recent gold- 
mining enterprise. 
Thus far the highland districts mentioned are part and parcel of the great cen- 
tral plateau contained between the Western and the Eastern Ghats. Their general 
level varies from 2,500 to 3,500 feet above sea, with isolated peaks and masses 
Tunning up to 5,000 and 6,000 feet. Next comes the Nilgiri plateau, nearly isolated 
