578 
ME. H. E. BLANEOED ON THE WINDS OF NOETHEEN INDIA. 
gradually towards the west, and by February blows from west by south. At Saugor 
Island the sea-wind sets in in February, somewhat suddenly from south-west by south, 
and during the hot-weather months backs gradually through four points of the compass, 
increasing in steadiness and mean velocity till the setting in of the rains in June. At 
Calcutta, Berhampore, and Dacca, a similar change in direction occurs, but through a 
greater range. Thus at Calcutta the wind backs through 8 points, at Dacca through 9, 
and at Berhampore through 10 points, between February and May. 
On the setting in of the rains the wind veers normally (to the westward) about half 
a point or a point — a change small in amount, but equally distinct in all parts of the 
delta, in the 10-year Table of Calcutta and the 3-year Tables of the other stations. In 
the following months, however, the winds again acquire more easting, until in September, 
the last month of the rains, the mean directions are S. 4 E. at Saugor Point, S. 30 E. at 
Calcutta, and S. 70 E. at Berhampore. At Dacca and Saugor Island that incursion of 
westerly winds in August which is so marked at Hazareebagh and other stations already 
noticed is distinct, though less striking, and it is traceable even in the Calcutta Table. 
At the two first-named stations there is a temporary increase of south, south-west, and 
west winds in August, and a corresponding decrease of south-east winds, such as to cause 
a normal veering of the resultant through nearly two points at Dacca and one at Saugor 
Island. At Calcutta and Berhampore this does not take place ; but the backing of the 
wind is somewhat less between July and August than either in the preceding or following 
months. In October the winds are chiefly from the east, but unsteady and stormy, 
alternating with calms in the earlier part of the month, and northerly or north-westerly 
in the latter part. 
In all parts of the delta the velocity of the wind is lowest in November and highest 
in May and June. This difference is greatest at the inland stations Dacca and Berham- 
pore. At the former the mean movement of the air in June is six times as great as in 
November, and at the latter more than four times as great. At all times of the year it 
decreases rapidly from the coast inland. Thus at Saugor Island, Calcutta, and Berham- 
pore the mean diurnal movement of the wind in May and November is as follows : — 
May. 
Saugor Island 345 miles 
Calcutta 209 „ 
Berhampore . . ‘ . 100 ,, 
November. 
Ill miles. 
82 
29 
55 
55 
Assam . — The Assam valley extends in an east by north direction along the foot of 
the Eastern Himalaya, from the extremity of the Garo hills in east longitude 90° to 
the point where the Brahmapootra issues from the Brahmakoond gorge in about longi- 
tude 96°. Its length is thus about 420 miles, while its width nowhere much exceeds 
60 miles. On the south it is enclosed by a tableland formed by the Garo, Khasi, Jynteah, 
and Naga hills, of which the second are the most elevated, the highest ridges being 
between 5000 and 6000 feet. The Jynteah hills next to the eastward are 1500 or 
