OCT. — mak. 1859-60.] Scientific Intelligence. 



329 



5. But it has been to the frequent occurrence of Hail in the 

 vicinity of the Palghat Gap in the Ghats, and in the adjoining low 

 Districts of the Cochin Sircar, that my attention has been chiefly 

 directed, having had regular reports made to me for several years 

 past. 



6. Hail Storms in the Palghat opening seldom extend to the 

 Eastward so far as Polachi in the Coimbatore District, 70 miles from 

 the Sea at Ponany ; rarely indeed occurring beyond the Talook of 

 Chittoor which is about 55 miles from the Sea. and about 500 feet 

 above it, in fact are limited chiefly to the middle of the opening 

 especially to the Cochin Talooks of Chittoor and Nemari, and from 

 thence in a W. S. W. direction through the Cochin Districts 

 of Pullianoor, Wurrakancherry , Nellaivye, Talapilly, towards Chow- 

 ghat, and occasionally but rarely to the S. of Tritchoor 



7. A Hail Storm occurred in February 1853 at Tripoontoray, 

 the capital of Cochin, which is only about 7 or 8 miles from the 

 Sea and not elevated 10 feet above it ; and another in February 

 1852 at Trickoor 4 or 5 miles S. Tritchoor, about 50 feet above 

 the Sea. 



8. The Hail Storm met with by myself on the Cardamom table 

 lands was on the 1st of April 1845 at a place called Peermode 

 nearly in the middle of the table land about 3,200 feet above the 

 Sea. 



It commenced about 4 J p. m. with thunder, lightning, heavy 

 rain, and wind, followed almost immediately by a heavy fall of Hail 

 which covered the ground. The temperature of the rain was 48°, 

 that of the Hail in a tumbler 29°. 



Dry bulb. Dew Point by Daniell. 



At 9j a. m 74° ....70° 



4 p. m 70° ... .Not observed. 



5 „ 67° .... 64 after the Hail Storm. 



9. Hail Storms are however not unfrequent in these months, 

 on the higher parts of these table lands to the N. E., near the 

 Pulneys, at altitudes of 5,000 feet, are so severe occasionally as to 

 seriously injure the crop of Cardamoms for the season : the ground 

 stated on such occasions to be completely covered with hail stones, 

 many of them of the size of a small hen's egg. 



