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CEYLON BRANCH 



blowing occasionally with great violence ; latter end of the 

 month 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 general 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 prevalent among the natives. It appears then that 

 the year subdivides 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 mid- 

 dle 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 pheno- 

 mena: — About three or four, p. m., clouds begin to gather to 



