276 Influence of the Moon on the Weather. [No. 3. 



is perhaps not one to be settled by observations extending over time 

 merely, although that is undoubtedly necessary to trustworthy results, 

 and this was an additional motive to my taking up the question here. 

 You will remark that my observations extend only over 1 1 lunations, 

 and cannot therefore be received as conclusive on the point, even 

 with reference to Agra, but it is a commencement which I intend shall 

 be followed up. The month of December, during which observations 

 Were not recorded, on account of the matter having escaped me for a 

 few days from press of other occupation, was a particularly steady 

 one ; and would not, I believe, have disturbed the general result had 

 that month been also included. 



It is a curious fact that the belief in lunar influence on the weather, 

 though continued here by Europeans and maintained by their descen- 

 dants, is not participated in by either Mahomedans or Hindus ; nor, 

 so far as I can learn, is mention made of it in Sanscrit or Arabic 

 books. The inference from this fact is strongly against the exist- 

 ence of any such influence — discernible at least by its effects, in Asia ; 

 since one would suppose Astrologers must, if it existed, have detected 

 it. Moreover the setting in of the periodical rains is an event of 

 immense importance to all classes, and if any connexion existed between 

 it and the lunar phases, the circumstance could scarcely, one would 

 think, have remained unnoticed. 



I have not sent you the tables in which the observations were 

 noted, since they would occupy more space than they perhaps deserve. 

 The way in which the reductions of them, as contained in the follow- 

 ing tables, have been made is this. I have, you will observe, divided 

 the lunar period into four equal parts, named the New Moon, the 

 Second, the Full Moon, and the Fourth Period. The New Moon 

 Period consists of seven days reckoned from three days previous to 

 the day of New Moon to three days after that day, which day being 

 included makes seven days. The Second Period is reckoned in the 

 same manner, with this difference, that the day on which the second 

 quarter of the Moon begins is the middle day, which together with 

 the three days previous to it and the three days after it, constitutes 

 the period. The Full Moon Period has seven days, three days being 

 reckoned on each side of the day of the Full Moon. The Fourth 

 Period has similarly three days counted on each side of the day on 

 which the last quarter of the Moon begins. 



