Ganges and Burrampootef Rivers. 107 
Thefe obfervations were made in a feafon, when the waters - 
rofe rather higher than ufual ; fo that we may take 3 1 feet for 
the medium of the increafe. 
The iliundation is nearly at a hand for fome days preceding 
the middle of Augufi, when it begins to run off ; for although 
great quantities of rain fall in the fiat countries, during Augufi: 
and September, yet, by a partial ceffation of the rains in the 
mountains, there happens a deficiency in the fupplies neceflary 
to keep up the inundation The quantity of the daily de- 
creafe of the river is nearly in the following proportion : 
during the latter half of Augufi, and all September, from 
three to four inches ; from September to the end of November, 
it gradually leflens from three inches to an inch and a half ; 
and from November to the latter end of April, it is only half 
an inch per day at a medium. Thefe proportions muff be un- 
derftood to relate to fuch parts of the river as are removed 
from the influence of the tides ; of which more will be faid 
by and by. The decreafe of the inundation does not always 
keep pace with that of the river, by reafon of the height of 
the banks ; but after the beginning of O&ober, when the rain 
has nearly ceafed, the remainder of the inundation goes off 
quickly by evaporation, leaving the lands highly manured, and 
in a ftate fit to receive the feed, after the Ample operation of 
plowing. 
There is a circumfiance attending the increafe of the Ganges, 
and which, I believe, is little known or attended to ; becaufe 
few people have made experiments on the heights to which the 
* I have ftated the middle of Augufi: for the period when the waters begin to 
^run off; and in general it happens with more regularity than the viciffitudes of the 
feafons do. But there are exceptions to it ; for in the year 1,774 the rivers kept 
■up for near a month after the ufual time. 
P % 
periodical 
