ME. H. F. BLANFOED ON THE WINDS OF NOETIIEEN INDIA. 
597 
plains of the interior, the rate of decrease is very different in different seasons, and that 
in the first three months of the year the rule of increasing dryness with increase of 
distance from the coast-line holds good only as far inland as Behar in the Gangetic 
plains. From Patna to Lahore the humidity of the atmosphere steadily increases to 
such an extent, that in March the latter station exceeds the former by 19 per cent, of 
saturation. I have little doubt that the Central Provinces are in like manner more 
humid in this season than the strip of country lying between them and the Sahyadree 
range, to judge from the rainfall Tables : humidity observations for the latter, though 
existing, are unfortunately not accessible and cannot be appealed to in verification ; but 
during a part of the time Nagpore and Jubbulpore show a higher humidity than Patna, 
and even than Benares. 
At the hill-stations the rule is also modified, and at Darjeeling from June to Sep- 
tember the humidity of the atmosphere exceeds that of any other station either on the 
coast or elsewhere. I shall presently consider the effect of elevation on this element. 
The coast-stations show some variations which evidently have reference to the pre- 
vailing winds. Thus in the earlier months of the year (from January to May) False 
Point has a higher degree of humidity than Akyab, though situated under, nearly the 
same latitude ; and during the remainder of the year this relation is reversed. A similar 
relation exists between False Point and Bombay, except that Bombay falls below False 
Point a month earlier ; and a similar tendency, though less marked, is observable in the 
registers of Chittagong and Saugor Island. Thus, then, it appears that the west coasts 
of both peninsulas have a lower degree of humidity than the east coast of India during 
the drier half of the year, while they range higher as soon as the south-west monsoon 
sets in. 
At Saugor Island and Chittagong January is the driest month of the year, and August 
the most humid, the annual range being 13 per cent, at the former station, and 18 per 
cent, at the latter. At Akyab the range is only 11 per cent., and March is the driest 
and July the most humid month. At False Point the humidity is lowest in November, 
that is, during the height of the rains lower down on the Madras coast ; and from April 
to August the proportion of moisture scarcely varies, and is about 15 per cent, of satu- 
ration higher than in November. 
Proceeding inland, a distance of 50 or 60 miles suffices to produce a marked decrease 
of humidity, especially during the prevalence of the land-winds. Thus in the month 
of March Calcutta stands 13 per cent, of saturation below Saugor Island, and Cuttack 
16 per cent, below False Point; and in the month of February Dacca ranges 13 per 
cent, below Chittagong. In Cachar, where the winds are chiefly from the south and 
the country around is either marsh or clothed with dense forest, the humidity of the 
air remains high and equable throughout the year ; only in two months, viz. in March 
and April, does it fall below that of Chittagong. But in Behar and in the North- 
western Provinces after March the ordinary rule holds good. Thus in April Patna 
ranges 39 and Benares 43 per cent, of saturation below Saugor Island, while in May 
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