92 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [Mar. 



across the Bay of Bengal (as inferred from the stations around the 

 coast) is from North East to South West, or in general conformity 

 to the outline of the peninsula, with the lower pressure (in the S. W. 

 monsoon) lying to the North West. If the normal pressure then be 

 such as is inferred, the normal winds in Bengal would be from S. E., 

 (in accordance with the law already alluded to); but if an independent 

 focus of low pressure be interposed in their course somewhere in 

 Lower Bengal, it would follow that the vapour-bearing winds would 

 be drawn in towards it, and would there discharge their moisture 

 as rain, while dry westerly winds would prevail in the N. W. 

 Provinces. This is what actually happened in both 1868 and 1869. 

 The re-distribution of pressure of the change of the monsoons occurs 

 in the months of March and October. In 1868, as early as the month 

 of April, a slight barometric depression (relatively to places around) 

 appeared in the N. W. corner of the Bay of Bengal, the barometer 

 at False Point being lower than that at Outtack, and that at Saugor 

 Island lower than at Calcutta. This difference was more marked 

 in May, and still more so in June, at the beginning of which month 

 the rains set in very heavily in and around Calcutta. The heaviest 

 fall was over Balasore and Coutai, where it exceeded 30 inches. It 

 was very heavy at Calcutta and Midnapore (between 20 and 30 

 inches), and diminished rapidly in all directions around. The wind 

 resultants for the month shew the influence of the depression very 

 markedly, those of all stations being more westerly than is 

 usually the case. In July the rains were not heavy, and an area 

 of low pressure in the direction of Hazareebagh appears to have 

 exorcised an influence over the winds, rendering them more easterly. 

 But in August the former focus was again intensified, the minimum 

 -are being very near Saugor Island, and the winds were again 

 drawn towards it. The rainfall of this month was very heavy 

 (exceeding 30 inches) over Hooghly and Kishnagur, therefore at 

 a distance of about 100 miles to the north of the place of baro- 

 metric depression. It exceeded 20 inches at Calcutta, Burdwan 

 and Jessore, diminishing in all directions around. In September, 

 the depression remained, but was less marked and influential, and 

 it did not disappear entirely till December. Throughout the sea- 

 son, tho winds in the country to westward of the Delta never 



