166 CEYLON BRANCH — -ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY. 



variable, very healthy on the whole but it is generally about 

 this time that cholera makes its appearance ; about eight 

 rain days. 



October — The periodical rains generally set in about the 

 middle of the month, or earlier, and the wind veers round to 

 the north, there are about 15 rain days, but the station is 

 healthy. . ■ , 



November — Very unsettled with rain for about 19 days, hot 

 and oppressive weather, station on the whole tolerably healthy, 

 but cold, fever, and dysentery appear among the natives. 



December — This month varies much in different years ; in ge- 

 neral the mornings and evenings are chilly with heavy dews, 

 the north-east monsoon still blows violently. There are on an 

 average about 12 days rain. Fever, colds and dysentery pre- 

 valent among the natives. It appears then that the year subdi- 

 vides itself into the following four portions. 



The great dry season extending from about the beginning or 

 middle of May to about the middle of October. 



The first rains from the middle of October to the end of 

 December. 



The lesser dry season from the beginning of January to the 

 middle or end of March, and 



The latter rains from that time till the beginning or middle 

 of May. Owing to some cause as to which I have not yet quite 

 satisfied myself, there are fewer rain days, and also I think a 

 smaller annual fall of rain at Putlam, than at almost all, if not 

 at all places situated even only three or four miles from it. 

 About the beginning of the October rains I have in a great 

 many instances observed the following series of phenomena. 

 About three or four p. m. clouds begin to gather to the west 

 and north-west, drift rapidly to the north-east, passing either over 

 or a little to the north of the station, veer round to the south, 

 run down towards Chilaw cross to the south-west and then re- 

 turning again over Putlanij pass to the east and are lost ia the 



