650 Miscellaneous. [Dec, 



X. — Miscellaneous. 



1 . — Climate oftheNeelgherries (Nilgiris, or Blue Mountains) , on the Malabar Coast. 



We have drawn the following abstract from the Daily Atmospherical Register, 

 published in Dr. Baikie's recent work — " on the Topography, Climate, Soil, and 

 Productions" of these hills, a work embodying every possible information regarding 

 this new resort of invalids, and embellished, in the most profuse manner, with 

 maps, coloured drawings, and botanical plates*. As the volume itself will be in the 

 hands of most of our readers, we do not think it necessary to make any further 

 extracts than such as illustrate the meteorological table, but we recommend the 

 author's " hints to invalids" to the perusal of such as feel inclined to visit Oota- 

 camund. Captain Harkness's observations on the inhabitants of the Nilgiris, 

 and a valuable list of plants by the Rev. Mr. Schmid, are added in an Appendix. 



Pressure. — " The range of the barometer on the hills appears to be considerably 

 greater than in the same latitude at the level of the sea. I have no access to any 

 accurate account of the range on the Malabar Coast, opposite to the hills, but I 

 believe it does not exceed 0.250 of an inch. Now, on an inspection of the an- 

 nexed meteorological tables, it will be seen, that in January, 1832, the barometer 

 attained the height of 23.375, the maximum of its elevation since my observations 

 began; while in the month of September previous, it had fallen as low as 22.675, 

 (corrected to 32 q Fahrt.,) shewing an extreme range of 0.700. This range ap- 

 pears however to differ annually ; being for three years as follows : 

 " For 1831, it was 0.560. 

 " 1832, 0.539. 



" 1833, 0.388, giving a mean annual range of 0,495. 



" As might have been anticipated, the barometer appears to attain its maximum 

 height in the cold dry weather of January or February, and its minimum during 

 or immediately after the S. W. monsoons. It generally begins to sink gradually 

 about the beginning of April, and continues descending (but with occasional 

 starts) till August or September, when it again rises gradually till the cold wea- 

 ther sets in. But here (as is found to be the case elsewhere within the tropics) 

 I have not been able to satisfy myself that any accurate prognostication of the 

 state of the weather is to be deduced from the fluctuations of the mercurial 

 column. I have seen it rise suddenly before or during heavy showers of rain, 

 and sink, equally inexplicably, before a course of fine dry weather. The only a^ent 

 which appears uniformly to act in the same way upon it is wind, the mercury 

 always rising before or during the prevalence of high wind. I have also occasion- 

 ally been able to predict wet weather, from observing the top of the column to be 

 flattened, or concave, but not with any degree of certainty. 



" The daily range of the barometer is very trifling, probably never exceeding 

 0.040 or .060 of an inch, and seldom greater than .035 ; but on this head, as on 

 that of its horary oscillations, I am unable to speak confidently, from want of 

 leisure to make the necessary observations ; the horary oscillations occur, as 

 far as I have observed, exactly at the same hours, and in the same succession, as 

 elsewhere all over the globe ; but according to Dr. Dalmahoy, only to half the 

 extent observed at Madras, and they are not interrupted during the monsoon, 

 as conjectured by Baron Humboldt. 



* The work is published at the Calcutta Baptist Mission Press ; the plates and 

 maps by Tassin. Mr. Smoult, the Editor, gives, in the preface, a statement of the 

 cost of publication, amounting to Sa. Rs. 3494, for the plates, and Rs. 758. 4. 0. for 

 the letter-press. The subscription list contains nearly 300 names. 



