282 
also at Orrnus, the coast of Arabia Felix by the Cape of Rosatgatt*, 
where the ships lie, it is very still, cleare, and pleasant water, and faire 
Summer time ; and turning about the Cape on the other side, it is raine and 
wind with great stormes and tempests, which with the times of the yeere 
doe likewise change on the other side, and so it is many other places on the 
Orientali Countries.” 
Having given some account of the monsoons, which are the 
great rain-carriers, and of the physical characters of the 
country which so largely influence its distribution, I now 
proceed to describe some facts relating to the rainfall, and 
the effects thereby produced. 
It is only within the last ten or twelve years that the com- 
prehensive system of meteorological observation now carried 
on has been in operation, but it promises to yield valuable 
results ; and one can hardly over-estimate the importance of 
such researches towards a thorough comprehension of the 
laws that regulate atmospheric pressure, vapour tension, and 
the supply of rain, when we consider their bearings on the 
causes of scarcity and famines which from time to time 
affect large tracts of country, and sweep away millions of 
lives. 
The annual meteorological reports of India abound in 
careful, comprehensive, and scientific work, and in informa- 
tion that must ultimately be productive of valuable results 
to the people of India. 
A glance at a hyetograpkical map of India shows that there 
are areas of rainfall of various degrees of irregular form and 
extent, corresponding to the latitude, physical characters of 
country, and proximity to sea or hills. Let me briefly 
describe them. 
In the north-west corner of India there are arid regions, 
which have a rainfall of less than 15 inches; in many parts of 
it, indeed, it is much less; whilst the desert tract of the Thur 
is to a great extent rainless. This area includes Sind, part 
of the Punjaub, and Rajputana. Then there is a zone with 
an annual fall of between 15 and 30 inches, surrounding the 
arid region on the north and east in a belt of 100 to 200 
miles wide, which includes Delhi and Agra. This is the 
northern dry zone. The upper parts of the valley of the 
Ganges, Central India, and the eastern coast of the Madras 
Presidency, have a fall of between 30 and 60 inches. 
There is a southern dry zone, which extends from Nassick 
to Cape Comorin, at a distance between the two seas. The 
deltas of the Mahanuddi and Ganges, and the lower part of 
the Gangetic Valley, have a fall of between 60 and 75 inches. 
There are two belts of excessive rainfall, — one extending 
