281 
The average animal rainfall in Equatorial regions is, I 
believe, about ninety-five inches ; in the temperate regions 
thirty-five inches, that for the whole of Tropical India is 
considerably less ; while for Hindostan it would be reduced 
to a lower figure, if we include in the average the almost 
rainless Thur desert ; but, if the rainfalls of the Himalayan 
be included, the average would, no doubt, be considerably 
raised. The problems presented by the rainfall are of a com- 
paratively simple character in Southern India and Bengal, 
where the influence of the monsoon is prominently felt ; but 
in the northern regions of Hindostan, where the influence of 
mountains, river basins, and the desert come into operation, 
there must of necessity be perturbation of the direction of 
the air currents and of the amount of rain. Further obser- 
vations will, no doubt, in time throw much light on these 
points. 
For the purpose of estimating the general results of 
rainfall, Mr. Blanford divides India into rainfall provinces, 
each of which may be represented by a general average, with- 
out any disregard of the normal variation of distribution, and 
be taken as the average rainfall of all the stations included in 
it ; except that when particular stations, such as Cherra 
Poonjee in Khasia, Mount Abu in Rajputana, Matheran, Maha- 
buleshwar, and Baura Fort on the Western Ghauts, &c., have a 
fall very greatly in excess of the majority of the stations, a 
fall which must be considered as purely local, only a half or 
third value is assigned in summing up in the general average. 
The following table, taken from Blanford's Meteorological 
Report for 1879, gives the result of this estimate as regards 
certain localities. The areas of the several provinces have 
been measured on one of the Surveyor- General's maps : — 
