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mon to hear, that four or five people have died in the streets in the course of a day, in consequence of being taken unprepared. This happens especially at the first setting-in of those winds.

The natives use no other means of se

curing themselves against this wind, but shutting up their houses, and bathing in the morning and evening; Europeans cool it through wetted tats made of straw or grass, sometimes of the roots of the wattie, which, wetted, exhale a pleasant but faint smell. It will be incredible to those that have never witmessed it, but the evaporation is really so great, that several people must be kept constantly throwing water upon the tats (eight feet by four) in order to have the desired effect of cooling a small

room.

It would be scarcely necessary to observe, if it were not in contradiction to public opinion, that the cold produced is not a peculiar property of the wind, but depends upon the general principle, that all liquids passing into an aëriform state, absorb heat, and cause immediately around them a diminution of it, and consequently a relative coldness. On the same principle depends also the cooling of wine and water, in the land-wind seasons, the latter in light earthen vessels, which allow an oozing of the water through their pores, and the former in bottles, wrapped in a piece of cloth, or in straw, which must be constantly kept moistened.

The great violence of these winds is at last terminated by frequent showers of rain, in June, in the low countries, and by the greater quantity of the regular rains falling in the inland countries, which seem to suspend the partial for mation of clouds along the Ghauts, and to leave them clearer, and visible at a greater distance, than they had been at any other period of the year before.

After the enumeration of so many dis agreeable circumstances, I am naturally

Four people dropped down dead at Yanam in the year 1797, an hour after my arrival there from Masulipatam: and at Samulcotah, four or five died the same day on the short road between that place and Peddapore: the number of inhabitants of either of these places does not exceed, I believe, five thousand.

The frame of them is made of bamboos, in the form of the opening in the house to be tatted, let it be door or window, which is then covered with straw in the manner every one thinks best suited to retain the water longest.

Andropogon muricatum. MONTHLY MAG. No. 209.

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led to an investigation of the causes that produce them. Before this can be done, however, I must prove, according to promise, that the theory of our philosophers is founded in error.

They ascribe, as already observed, the extraordinary heat which distinguishes these winds from most others, to the absorption of caloric, in their passage over an extensive tract of country, at a time when the sun acts most powerfully in our latitudes.

According to this theory, the heat should increase in proportion to the space over which this wind is to travel; it should be hotter on the coast than it is at any part of the country inland, or, which is the same, it should decrease by degrees from the eastern to the western sea of the peninsula. Experience, however, teaches us the reverse; for it is hottest near the Ghauts, and among the valleys between those ranges of hills, than at any place on the coast; and the heat of those winds decreases also as they approach the Bay of Bengal, and in a direct ratio from the Ghauts to the sea: accordingly, it is at Ambore hotter than at Vellore, and at this place again than at Arcot, Conjeveram,} and Madras, where the land-winds are seldom felt with any degree of severity.

Time is another measure applicable to the acquisition of heat, as it increases to the greatest pitch which a body is capable of receiving in proportion to its continuance: the land-winds should therefore be cooler when they set-in at ten or eleven o'clock, and hottest at their termination in the afternoon; they should be so at least at noon, when the sun is nearly vertical, and has the greatest influence on the substances from which heat is to be attracted. The contrary, however, comes nearest to the truth; for it is known that these winds set-in with their greatest violence and heat at once,

ley of the Ghauts, immediately at the foot A place situated in the most western valof the steepest ascent into the Mysore country.

+ Lies in a spacious valley, nearly at the entrance of the Ghaut mountains, and has the advantage of an open communication with the flat country to the north-east.

A large city, the capital of the nabobs of the Carnatic, east of the ranges of hills called the Ghauts.

i.... miles east of the latter place in the road to Madras, a large populous place. I have chosen this tract, or line, as the most known, although not the hottest; for Ellore, Rajahmundry, and Samulcotah, in the Northern Circars, are by far more exposed to these winds.

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which rather abate than increase, as might be expected.

We should, on this principle, further suppose the heat would increase gradually with the return of the sun to our latitudes, from its southern declination, and stand always in proportion to its position. We find, however, that expe rience also contradicts this point of the theory under discussion; for after the sun has passed our zenith, the landwinds set-in at once with all their intensity, in the manner before described, and they cease as abruptly before its return again.t

A material change in the temperature of this climate is certainly effected by the approach of the sun from the south; but the beat which is thus caused, and which increases by imperceptible de grees, is never so great, and is only felt by those who expose themselves to it unprotected; for the air remains proportionally cool, and our houses afford, in this season, a pleasant retreat. We find it far otherwise in a land-wind; for this penetrates our inmost recesses, and renders life miserable every where.

I have before observed, that winds equally hot with those of periodical duration, are felt in all parts of the country, and at different seasons; a circumstance alone sufficient, if proved, to overthrow the ground-work of the old theory.

For a confirmation of this, I will appeal to the general observation, that im mediately before a long rain the weather is sultry, and that a single shower is always preceded by a warm disagreeable wind.

We are very particularly reminded of the approaching great monsoon in October, by the oppressive heat we have in the calm evenings of that month, which, I am persuaded, would equal that of the land-winds in May, if the atmosphere were not cooled in the latter part of the night by breezes that have wafted over extensive inundated plains.

I can refer, secondly, to my Meteorological Journal, according to which, the 4th of June 1800, at Madavaram, a place not far from Bengalore, the thermometer rose for a short time to 104° just before a slight shower of rain, and

+ The sun is in the zenith at Madras about the 26th of April.

The sun is again in our zenith on its southern declination about the 19th of August.

at a time when heavy clouds darkened the western hemisphere.

Further, in the months of March and April 1804, we had often at Bengalore, in the afternoons, strong gusts of wind from the eastward, which, in common, were styled land-winds, and were really as hot and disagreeable as moderate landwinds are in the Carnatic. I could have multiplied instances of this kind, but am of opinion that in a fact so much known, it would be perfectly needless.

The last refuge of the defenders of this theory, is the valleys of the Ghauts, in which they pretend the heat is generated by the concentrated and reflected rays of the sun.

I will not deny but the heat occasioned by these causes, may contribute much to raise the heat of the land-winds; but the sudden appearance of the latter, their usual strength, and abrupt disappearance, all militate against that explanation as a principal cause.

The heat of these winds should in this case, to say a few words more on the preceding subject, decrease regularly from the point where it is greatest towards the opposite, on both sides, as is the case on the coast of Coromandel. On the contrary, we find that, immediately on our having ascended the Ghauts, or on the top of hills* elevated above the clouds, we have escaped their heat all at once. It is hereby remarkable, that the direction of the wind remains to ap pearance nearly the same every where. In Mysore, for example, the wind is, in the land-wind season, west during the greater part of the day; in the afternoon it is from the east, and commonly warner than the former.

This, together with what had been said before, will, I hope, he thought sufficient to establish my opinion relative

* Major Lambton, at the top of Carnati. ghur, one of the highest hills in the Carabove the level of the sea, found, in the midnatic, about three thousand two hundred feet dle of the land-wind season, the thermometer at 79° and 80° in the mornings, and at noon 82° and 84°, when it was below at 103°, and inore. This observation may be the more depended upon, as the Major remained for a considerable time on the top of this hill, in the pursuance of his most accurate survey, in the course of which he pays great attention to this, as well as to all other points that could influence his learned Jabours.

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to what cannot be the cause of the heat in this season. At times, we have also in the land-winds.

It remains now to point out a theory supported on a firmer basis, which I shall endeavour to do in the following pages. It is founded on a chemical principle, and will explain, I think, the heat of these winds in a satisfactory

manner.

The principle itself needs no demonstration, as it is admitted as a general law; viz. that "all bodies, when they become more dense, suffer heat to escape; or, what is the same, they give out heat." For example, when gases or aeriform substances become vapours, they discharge as much heat as was necessary to keep them in their former gaseous state: further, vapours in condensing into fluids are known to do the same, as also fluids acquiring solidity.

I am sorry that the quantity of heat tet free in the condensation of vapours required for a pound of water, has escaped my memory; but I recollect it was very considerable. We know, however, that a great deal of it is required for the evaporation of the same measure, and it is but reasonable to admit that the same quantity with which it has combined should be discharged on its returning to its former state of fluidity.

In order to apply this principle to explain the presence of heat in our landwinds, I must first observe, that the atmosphere in January, February, and March, is perfectly clear and serene; and then I will call to mind what has been said of the phænomena of those winds, that they are preceded by clouds on and among the Ghauts, and that a heavy shower of rain from that quarter announces their arrival; that during their continuance clouds are observed to lie on the Ghauts; and that the atmosphere, even in the low country, is hazy and thick. I must add also, that the countries west of the Ghauts are at this season frequently visited by heavy showers of rain, accompanied with much thunder and lightning, and sometimes with hail. Here in the Mysore country I have found the heaviest showers of this kind to come from the north-west, which is exactly in the direction of the countries remarkable for the great heat of the land-winds

The hottest land-winds in this season (1804) at Madras, were, I understand, from the north-west; which corresponds with the direction from which the rains came in MyGore at that period.

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showers from the east and south-east, and my attention shall not be wanting to ascertain whether it is not at the time when the land-winds blow hottest in the Carnatic. By this we see, that the clouds formed on the Ghauts, charged with water and electricity (by causes I am not now to investigate), are drawn to the westward, whilst the heat, which du ring the formation of these clouds, must necessarily be discharged, is carried to the east or to the lower parts of the coast, and causes the properties for which the land winds are so remarkable.

I have acknowledged already, that the heat occasioned by the power of the sun in this season, contributes to the aggregate of it in the wind; but I must observe also, that it acts only as a secondary cause, and passively, by preventing its absorption and diminution in the career over a variety of substances, particularly moisture, with which it would combine, if they had not been previously removed or incapacitated.

In colder climates, this absorption takes place in a greater degree, as substances are abundant with which the heat produced by the formation of rain can combine and become imperceptible.t It is, however, there also often remarked, that the heat of the sun in a cloudy day is more powerful than at any other time. In common this is ascribed to the reflec-. tion of the rays, of the sun from the clouds; but I opine it is often the conse quence of the formation of water in the clouds, which obscure the sky at that moment.

It has been observed, that the heat of the land-winds is not felt on the top of high hills, or on plains of a very inconsi derable perpendicular height above those in which it rages most violently; as, for example, in Mysore near the Ghauts, which is only about five hundred feet higher than the valleys immediately below. This might be considered a weighty objection against my theory; as heat, considered in the light of an elastic fluid, expands equally on all sides; and from whatever cause it proceeds, it should be supposed to extend even further where it incets with less resistance, as from the

Earl Dundonald's Treatise, p. 20. "The frequent changes in the degree of heat and cold in the atmosphere are to be ascribed more to the alternate disengagement and fixation of heat by chemical combinatiou, than to the effects of the solar rays,"

air in higher regions, which is known to be lighter and more penetrable than near the earth.

But the reverse takes place; for almost immediately above the clouds no other heat is perceptible than what might be owing to the nature of the climate.

This circumstance may be accounted for by the diminished density of the air in the lower parts of the country, produced by the heat of the season, which would naturally cause the wind to rush thither, with all its contents, and with greater impetuosity. The coolness of the atmosphere on elevated situations may be ascribed also to the evaporation of the uppermost strata of the clouds, which accompany the land-winds.

Many arguments I have dispensed with, which might have been produced to elucidate and to establish my theory, as they were chiefly such as could be collected from simple inference, and from amrnative application of doctrines advanced before.

I will only add, that both the sirocco and samiel may be owing to similar causes as those which appear to be productive of the pernicious, or rather dis agreeable, effects of our land-winds.

REPORT of the BRITISH and FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

RESUMING the narrative of their foreign correspondence from the information in their last report, the committee state, that the measures adopted by them for promoting an edition of the Scriptures in the Polish language, through the agency of the Bible Society at Berlin, have proved successful. By the latest intelligence from the Bible Society at Berlin, respecting the progress of this work, it appears, that the proposed edition, comprising 8,000 copies of the whole Bible, and 4,000 extra copies of the New Testament, had then been advanced to the beginning of the Prophecy of Daniel.

In another letter from Berlin, dated the 27th of February last, it is stated, that the Lithuanian nation contains up wards of a million of people, many of whom are truly pious, but very poor; and that one of the principal clergymen has caused it to be published from all the pulpits belonging to Prussian Lithuania, that a new edition of the Lithuanian Bible was about to be printed.

The committee report also the receipt of two letters from the German Bible Society at Bâsle. The first confirms the probability of a second edition of the

German Bible, by stating that it had been actually completed, and a third begun.

Four thousand copies of the New Tes tament, in French, had been purchased and sent to different depôts in Montbe liard, Nismes, and other places in France. From several parts in the south-eastern provinces of that country, authentic accounts had been received, that many Roman Catholics requested copies of the New Testament, and had perused them with great eagerness and gratitude,

The committee, anxious to encourage these important undertakings, both with respect to France and the Grisons, resolved to assist the Society at Bâsle with a grant of 3001, for the first object, and of 2001. for the second.

The committee next advert to their correspondence with the Evangelical Society at Stockholm. Ia their last report, they stated, that the sum of 3001, had been remitted to that Society for the purpose of enabling it to undertake an edition of the Swedish New Testament on standing types. Encouraged by this remittance, the society proceeded imme◄ diately to the execution of the work,

It appeared that in the diocese of Tornea, which comprises the north of Sweden and Swedish Lapland, there were about 10,000 Laplanders unacquainted with any language but that of their own country.

The safe arrival, and due distribution, of the Bibles sent by your committee for the use of the German colonists on the banks of the Wolga, have been acknow ledged.

The committee have learnt that the edition of the Arabic Bible, printing under the patronage of the bishop of Dur ham, is considerably advanced.

The number of natives of Ceylon sub ject to the British government, is computed at a million and a half; their languages are the Cingalese and Tamul. Nearly the first three books of the Old Testament, and the whole of the New, have been translated into the Cingalese, and printed at Columbo, at the charge of government.

The domestic occurrences, with a view to a clearer elucidation of them, may be conveniently arranged under the following heads:

First, New editions of the Scriptures printed in England.

Second, Auxiliary Bible Societies instituted since the last general meeting. Third, Distribution of Bibles and Testaments; and,

Fourth,

Fourth, Donations to the funds of the Society.

The committee report, that the edition of the New Testament, in ancient and modern Greek, in parallel columns, commenced in the last year, is nearly completed; and that the Dutch and Danish Testaments, announced in the former report as being in the press, are now in circulation.

The committee also report their resolation to print a version of the New Testament in the Irish language.

A mission has been for these forty years past established on the coast of Labrador, for the purpose of instructing the Esquimaux in the Christian religion. To facilitate these labors, the committee have printed a version of the gospel of St. John in the Esquimaux language, and have further agreed to print the gospel of St. Luke.

Under the general head of distribution of the Scriptures, on which the committee report, they include not only donations but supplies of the Scriptures furnished by the British and Foreign Bible Society

to other Associations, and individuals, at the cost, or reduced prices.

The total of such donations and supplies has been very considerable during the last year, both at home and abroad. Copies of the Scriptures, either in whole or in part, and in various languages, have been sent abroad to Southern Africa, for the benefit of the converted Hottentots; to Paramaribo in Surinam; to the West Indies, for the use of the Christian ne groes; to the islands of Sark, Jersey, Madeira, Sicily, Dominica, Bermuda, Jamaica, Guadaloupe, Martinique, Tri nidad, Antigua, St. Thomas, aud Prince Edward's; to St. Domingo; to the Cape of Good Hope; to Quebec; to Demerara; and to different stations in India.

The 500 copies of the Italian New Testament, sent to a respectable correspondent at Malta, have been received and put into distribution.

Of 500 Testaments sent to Martinique, for sale or gratuitous distribution, among the negroes and other poor people, 450 were eagerly and rapidly purchased; and the remainder reserved for donations.

LIST OF NEW PUBLICATIONS IN JANUARY.

ARTS, FINE.

Cure of Asthma, Difficulty of Breathing, A Description of the Ancient Terracottas in Wheezing, and Winter Cough, with explicit the British Museum. By Taylor Combe, instructions for their management and cure. esq. with 11 plates, engraved after the Draw-To which are added, Directions for the use of ings of William Alexander, esq. royal 8vo. Stramonium. By Mr. Fisher. 2s. 11. 11s. 6d. elephant, 21. 12s. 6d.

A Picturesque Voyage to India, by the way of China. By Thomas Daniel, R.A. and William Daniel, A.R.A. folio, with 30 en gravings, 121.

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A New System of Physic and Medical Surgery. By R. Reece, M.D: 8vo. 12s.

Illustrations of Madness; exhibiting a sin gular case of Insanity, and a no less remarkable difference in Medical Opinion. By John Haslam. 5s. 6d.

Additional Cases, with further Directions to the Faculty, relating to the Use of the Humulus or Hop, in Gout, and Rheumatic Affections. By A. Freake. 8vo. 1s. 6d.

On the Diseases of the Generative System. By John Roberto, M.D. 8vo. 145.

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