54 



EOYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY, (CEYLON BRANCH.) 



ON THE CLIMATE OF DIMBULA. 



Situated as Dimbula is, almost immediately* under the 

 main mountain chain of Ceylon, it will be well to briefly 

 consider the meteorology of the Island before proceeding; to 

 discuss the observations taken at Langdale and Carlabeck 

 during the past eight years . As these two estates adjoin, 

 are at the same elevation, and trial has proved that there 

 was no difference of importance between similar observations 

 taken on the two places, these are now carried on solely at 

 Carlabeck, as the more convenient station. 



Ceylon, from its insular position is more exposed to the 

 full effects of both monsoons than the adjoining Indian 

 coasts. Yet even here the effect of position on the rainfall 

 is very noticeable. Those stations more directly facing the 

 north-east monsoon which blows from the dry high lands 

 of Asia across the comparatively small Bay of Bengal can- 

 not compare in rainfall with those exposed to the south- 

 west monsoon after its passage over the broad Indian Oceau. 

 On the other hand their mean temperature is higher, and 

 there is more variation between the highest and lowest 

 readings. 



The influence of the mountain range is very marked. It 

 is a common thing for a visitor to Nuwara Eliya during 

 the wet season (the south-west monsoon) to find that in 

 the short distance between that place and Hakgalla, he 

 escapes from the almost incessant rain, and from Hakgalla 

 can see before him the plains of Uva parched up for want 

 of it. In Dimbula also the same thing constantly occurs in 

 the north-east monsoon when we see the tops of the range 

 dividing us from Qva covered with heavy clouds driven up 

 thence by the north-east wind, yet not a drop of rain will 



