1839] 



On the Statistics of Dakhun. 



In March, from the sun's approach, the interior land during the day 

 gets heated ; an influx of air fronn the sea coast commences daily after 

 JO A. M. ; but as the earth, at this period, cools more rapidly than the 

 sea at night, the interior is cooler than the coasts, and there is a reflux 

 of air towards the ocean ; the easterly and westerly winds thus alternate 

 day and night. This alternation, however, diminishes in the ratio of 

 the sun's increasing power ; and Avhen the earth gets so thoroughly heat- 

 ed that it cannot reduce its temperature by radiation below that of the 

 sea, the consequence is the prevalence of winds from the westerly points 

 to the almost entire exclusion of those from easterly points. In June 

 the westerly winds set in regularly. There are occasional instances of 

 the wind blowing with much steuidy violence from the west for many 

 hours in the hot months with a sunny sky. In the early part of March 

 some unaccountably cold wdnds, affecting vegetation even, have been 

 known to blow. 



Hot Winds. — The well-known hot winds of tropical continents do not 

 prevail near the Ghats ; but the same wind, which is pleasant in their 

 neighbourhood, may become a hot wnnd as it travels to Ahmednuggur 

 and Arungabad. The east wind is characterized by its extreme dry- 

 ness, and it is dangerous to sleep exposed to it. 



Whirlwinds. — Those curious wdiirlwinds noticed by travellers in Af- 

 rica, and which in the deserts are dangerous, are of common occurrence 

 in Dukhun in the hot months. A score or more columns of dust, in the 

 form of a speaking trumpet or watei -spout, maybe seen rapidly coursing 

 over the treeless plains, marking a vortex of heated air. They are suf- 

 ficiently powerful to unroof a thatched house, strike tents, and whisk 

 away all light matters. 



i/aiZ »S/owe-5.— Hail stones of considerable magnitude sometimes fall 

 in the thunder-storms of the hot months. 



Dews. — Dews appear plentifully after the monsoon, and during the 

 nights of the cold months : but their frequent local occurrence has often 

 excited surprise. 



i^or^5.— Fogs are of so rare occurrence in the Desh, or country east- 

 ward of the Ghats, that I have only nineteen records of them during five 

 years. Along the Ghats they are much more common ; and during April 

 and May, for three or four nights in the week, fogs drift rapidly to the 

 eastward from the Konkun, or low country at the foot of the Ghats. 

 On some nights no drift takes place, and the fog remains rest- 

 ing on the Konkun ; and, seen from the crest of the Ghats at sun- 

 rise, has the appearance of a sea of mi:k. As the sun rises the fog creeps 

 up the chasms of the Ghats, and finally disappears by 10 A. M. 



