172 CEYLON BRANCH ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY. 



probable cause. If mistaken in tins respect I should think at 

 least a part of this sickness must be ascribed to the existence of 

 some pools of stagnant water immediately behind the lines. 



As to mortality the number of men stationed at Putlam is 

 too small to permit of any deductions being made, during these 

 eight years there have occurred in a detachment averaging 57.6 

 men, 5 deaths ; 3 from cholera morbus : 2 from other diseases. 

 All the fatal cases of cholera have occurred during October, and 

 in no instance has fever been a cause of death. 



Though somewhat foreign to the subject of this paper, I may 

 here cursorily remark that I have by aid of the registers 

 placed in my hands, once more tested the world-wide, but yet 

 undoubtedly erroneous opinion, that the moon exercises an un- 

 explained yet all powerful influence over weather; this ancient 

 theory is indeed sufficiently disproved by the simple fact that 

 the changes of weather in two places by no means remote 

 from each other, may and often do preserve no parallel- 

 ism whatever, accordingly as might be expected, I find that 

 the decided changes of weather which occurred in Putlam du- 

 ring eight years, took place without any definite order what- 

 ever ; the days of quadrature or any other similar fixed dates 

 showing no undue predominance. 



From that which precedes I would then draw these deduc- 

 tions, that Putlam although of course not altogether free from 

 the disadvantages of a tropical, climate, may yet be considered 

 as being in many respects highly favoured. During the greater 

 portion of the year a cool refreshing sea breeze steals across 

 the face of the country, and in the wet season this spot is 

 much less subject to rain than many places even in its imme- 

 diate neighbourhood; and though it must be admitted that the 

 north-east wind does often bring fever with it, and produces a 

 very disagreable clammy sensation on those exposed to it, yet 

 the dry portions of the rainy season are particularly pleasant, the 

 fresh verdure of the extensive plains, the light green of the bud- 



