.1870.] On the Worm a I Rainfall of Benga I. 255 



Here .again a direct comparison of the effects of elevation is 

 impracticable, but the stations for which I have registers are more 

 numerous. Three of them viz. Darjiling, Eungbee and Eishap are 

 situated within a few miles of each other at elevations respectively 

 of 6950, 5000 and 2000 feet approximately; the positions of the 

 two former stations have been described above ; the last is situated 

 below Eungbee. The following is a comparison of the rainfall of 

 each, the mean of the two years, 1868 and 1869. 



Elevation. Mean Rainfall 



of 2 years. 



Darjiling, 6950 feet. 117-93 inches. 



Eungbee, 5000 „ 167*07 ,, 



Eishap, 2000 „ 104-95 „ 



The two stations last mentioned lie on the exposed face of the hills, 

 but they are, to some extent, shut off in a measure from the plains by 

 a spur that reaches to 7000 feet, or 2000 feet above the higher of the 

 stations. The effect of this is, however, as I am assured by Mr. 

 Clarke, less than might be anticipated, since the open valley of the 

 Teesta and that of its lateral feeder, the Eungbee, afford a free passage 

 to the SE wind, which pours up them, and from the head of the 

 latter valley is driven up the Sinchul ridge. The difference of these 

 stations, at 2000 and 5000 feet, amounts to 60 per cent, of the rain- 

 fall at the lower. I am now making arrangements, with Mr. 

 Clarke's assistance, to establish a guage at a greater elevation, 

 where Mr. Clarke opines, the rainfall will be found to be heavier 

 than at Eungbee. Darjiling being to leeward of the Sinchul ridge 

 has doubtless a lower rainfall, than a station at the same elevation 

 immediately above Eungbee would be found to have. 



Buxa in the Bhotan doars is stated to be about 2,490 feet above 

 the sea* In 1869, for which year alone I have its register, no 

 less than 252 inches were measured at this station. It presents the 

 freest possible exposure, standing forward on the ridge of a spur that 

 projects directly into the plains, but its excessive rainfall, as compared 

 with the Sikhim stations, is no doubt in part due to its more easterly 

 position, and I have considerable reason to believe that the rain- 



* The mean of two boiling-point determinations by Major Godwin- 



Ansten. 



33 



