81 H. F. Blanford — On protracted Relative [No. 1, 



pressure generally became about normal after an unusual depression in 

 January, tbe change affected the several stations very unequally, Orissa and 

 the upper part of tbe N. W. Provinces being most affected, and Jubbulpore 

 and Madras tbe least. In May, again, tbe pressure fell mucb less tban usual 

 as a general rule, but at Akyab tbe fall was of tbe almost normal amount ; 

 wbile at Agra and Lucknow it was less tban tbe average fall by nearly 

 0*1 incb. In June tbe fall of pressure was everywhere greater than the 

 average, the excess being greatest at Agra and Lucknow, and least at Akyab, 

 Madras, and ISTagpore. Lastly, in August, with a general abnormal rise of 

 pressure, Akyab, Chittagong, Berhampur, and Monghyr show the greatest 

 excess, and Agra and Lucknow nearly as much, but the rise at Madras was 

 not much greater than the average, and at Port Blair, Vizagapatam, and 

 Nagpore about equal and of intermediate amount. 



In 1874 the pressure was abnormally low relatively to other places at 

 at Akyab, False Point, and Cuttack, especially the last ; while it was highest 

 at Berhampur and Chittagong. 



Agra and Lucknow (especially the last) shewed a low pressure as in 

 the preceding year ; but the depression was relatively less intense ; and 

 Jhansi and Jubbulpore were relatively high, more especially the latter. The 

 persistency of these differences was not less than in former years, as may be 

 seen in the table for 1874 ; but I have not been able to trace out any such 

 concurrence between these phenomena and tbe peculiarities of the rainfall 

 as are exhibited in tbe reports and registers of certain previous years. 

 Tbe rainfall of 1874 was generally deficient in- tbe western districts of 

 Bengal and also the more eastern districts and Arakan ; but above the 

 average at Burdwan, Soory, Contai, and in the Bajshaye and Cooch Behar 

 divisions. . In general, too, it was in excess in Behar, Chutia Nagpur, and 

 Orissa. In the N. W. and Central Provinces also it was generally abun- 

 dant ; Jhansi, Ajmere, and Nagpore being, however, exceptions. In the ear- 

 lier part of the monsoon, the rain was plentiful in the 1ST. W. Provinces 

 and scanty in Bengal. In September and October this relation was rever- 

 sed. 



Lest the somewhat abstract language I have employed in describing 

 these phenomena should tend to obscure tbe physical facts to which the 

 tables testify, it will be useful, before proceeding further, to recall to mind 

 what these facts really are. Such expressions as normal and abnormal, how- 

 ever convenient for describing the mental analysis of a phenomenon which 

 results from the concurrent operation of a number of causes, have really 

 reference only to our way of regarding it, and none whatever (of necessity) 

 to the phenomenon itself. The physical facts educed in the foregoing dis- 

 cussion may be thus enunciated : — T hat amid the never ceasing 

 changes of condition and place to which every 



