] 84 1 .] Report on subjects connected with Affghanistan. 8 1 5 



which is in lat. 31° 35' 33" and at an elevation of nearly 3,500 feet 

 above the level of the sea, the direct heat of the sun in May and 

 June cannot be much less than 125° to 130°. Throughout the lower 

 districts, during the hot months, westerly winds, often assuming the cha- 

 racter of hot winds, are prevalent. 



They were very incommoding at Candahar, and were rendered very 

 hot from blowing over a desert of some extent, a short distance to the 

 westward of that city. In certain places, these winds become quite 

 deadly ; their fatal effects have been especially experienced in Kutch 

 Gundava, but they are dreaded by the natives in some parts of Affghan- 

 istan itself, as on the stony desert between Ali Baghan and Chardeh, 

 near the valley of Jilalabad. In such they are I believe, known by 

 the name of Badi Simoom. 



Little or no dew is deposited in Affghanistan except in the spring 

 Dews. months, and in those places, such as the Chummuns, 



where the water is very near the surface, and along the imme- 

 diate vicinity of the lines of drainage. 



I have seen it mentioned in books of some authority, that dews are 

 the providential means by which plants are supplied with moisture in 

 arid countries. To this opinion I do not subscribe ; it certainly does 

 not apply to Affghanistan, as I had opportunities of observing during 

 the marches of the Engineer department. If the deposit of dew de- 

 pends on the presence of moisture in the atmosphere, I do not see 

 how it can be a phenomenon of general occurrence in Affghanistan, 

 in which) except at the season and in the places alluded to, the air is 

 always remarkably dry. The other circumstances known to attend 

 on its deposit, are all favourable throughout the country, particularly 

 the nightly lowering of the temperature, and cloudless skies. I con- 

 ceive it to be probable, that in the places alluded to, as presenting 

 deposits of dew, these may be the effects of moisture derived from the 

 soil during the day, more especially towards its close. This moisture 

 would be deposited during calm nights, presenting the other required 

 conditions. But throughout the greater part of Affghanistan, the 

 habitual summer dryness is not modified by any such source of 

 moisture. 



