386 JOURNAL R. A. a (CEYLON). [Vol, III. 



port, trades-people and others are discouraged from settling 

 in Badulla, which of course renders living fearfully expensive, 

 every article of consumption being at an exorbitant price. 

 But with the many difficulties to be contended with, I 

 have yet had the pleasure, since my residence in Badulla, 

 of witnessing many material improvements. New roads 

 and bridges to facilitate communication with the district 

 have been constructed ; while the extension of the means 

 of Irrigation is proving of pre-eminent ser vice to the native 

 population. Facilities are thus being afforded for bringing 

 Avaste land under cultivation, and for the extensive pro- 

 duction of paddy, which is the staple article of food among 

 the people. 



To no cause more than the unremitted zeal of the late 

 Assistant Government Agent of Badulla, — and this is ac- 

 knowledged throughout the District — are the improvements 

 of the works of Irrigation to be attributed. 



Climate. 



There are three seasons. First, the I) ry weather, which 

 commences in May and continues till the end of August : 

 second, the Wet weather, which extends from September 

 to December inclusive : and the third, the Cold weather, 

 from January to the end of April. Of these four months 

 of cold weather, the first two are the coldest. It may be 

 stated that generally the thermometer ranges 84° in the 

 shade during the usual dry weather : in the rainy season 

 it is about 80° and often in the mornings as low as 58° ; and 

 in the cold season it is 5b'°, and on the hills it has been 

 observed to be as low as 51°. 



The winds blowing in a north-easterly direction are 

 generally cold and bracing, but they become hot and 

 oppressive from May to September, which, are the most 

 unhealthy months of the year, especially if there be unusual 

 heat and drought. 



