14 FOOTK : SOrTIl MAIIHATTA COUNTRY. , 



The climatic conditions of the three zones into which the South 



Three zones of eleva- Mahvatta Country is divisible are very distinct, and 



tion and climate. -^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ^f ^y^^ ^^^ ^^^^^ ^j^g boundary between 



them is very clearly defined. The three zones are the country below the 

 Ghats, or Soiitliern Konkan, the Ghat region, and the Deccan region. 

 The differences of climate are marked, and depend upon the rainfall 

 during the south-west monsoon and the relative elevation of the land, 

 and may be defined as follows : — 



The Konkan ... ... "Wet and hot. 



The Ghat region ... ... Wet and cool. 



The Deccan region ... ... Dry and hot. 



The eastern limit of the Ghat region is not naturally well defined; 

 indeed, in some parts it may be considered as shading oflF into the 

 Deccan region. In other parts, however, there is a decided change in 

 the vegetation and in the nature of the shelter the natives provide for 

 themselves, the flat mud roofs of the Deccan being suddenly replaced 

 in certain villages by tiled pent roofs. As far as my own observations 

 o-o, I incline to draw the eastern limit of the Ghat region from north to 

 south through Nipani (Neepanee) and Sankeshwar ; thence it runs east- 

 ward to Pachhapur, and then trends south past Ankalgi (Unkulgee) 

 and Marrihal to the Yellurgarh trap ridge. To the south of this it 

 trends southward to the crossing of the Belgaum and Dharwar road over 

 the Malprabha. The diminution of the rainfall from the crest of the 

 Ghats eastward is steady and well-marked ; but to the eastward of the 

 boundary line just traced, the diminution in the amount of atmospheric 

 deposition is very sudden, and is accompanied by a decided change in the 

 aspect of the local flora, a change which is patent to the eye even of 

 the botanical layman. The change of the climate is also made very 

 apparent by the sudden change in the architecture of the native 

 houses ; — on the western side of the boundary line they have all tiled 

 pent-roofs with wide eaves to carry the water well clear of the mud 

 walls; on the eastern side the great majority of houses . have flat 

 ( 14 ) 



