to a periodical change of season, when they hasten its approach, as has been before remarked to be the only influential attendant on those phenomena. Earthquakes are generally attended with a hazy atmosphere, with small low motionless clouds, and the breeze on the surface blowing irregularly in strong eddies, with calms intervening.

It is in May and September that Cholera Morbus and other diseases prevail most. In the year 1825, the rainy season did not commence before the 19th of June, continued throughout very mild, and broke up in so light a manner as scarcely to be remarked at all. In consequence, the weather, for a month before their setting in, and at their conclusion, was unusually close and oppressive, although the temperature was not higher than that of other years at the times in question. The cholera raged in Calcutta in June, visiting the country here and there on that and the following months, and reached Bancoorah, among other places, in September, sweeping off a vast number of the natives in its way. After continuing for a fortnight or three weeks in the town of Bancoorah with fatal effect, almost in every case baffling the power of medicine, it all at once left the place and appeared in Chatna, a village about eight miles to the northward. In this manner it travels through the country in continued hot moist weather, carrying off great numbers of the native population, and, I believe, in some instances taking one portion of a village, or even one side of a street, leaving the rest of the village untouched in its progress onward. In Calcutta, the cholera is among the natives in the Black Town almost at all seasons; the low situation of the city, and the crowded and narrow streets of the native part of it, being exceedingly well suited to keep the disease from abating even during the coolest part of the year. At this time Calcutta is almost daily visited with a dense damp fog hanging over the city and the River Hoogly in the morning and evening. In May 1828, the cholera was not only mortal to the natives in that city, but there were more numerous instances of its proving fatal to Europeans there and in other parts of the country than former years had exhibited. This might have arisen from the unexampled heat of that season. There cannot be a more impressive case of distress than that of witnessing a patient labouring under Cholera

Morbus. In the morning he might have been perfectly wellbefore sun going down (a speedy interment is in that climate indispensably necessary) the tomb covers all that is mortal of him! From the great evaporation that takes place before and after the departure of the rainy season, giving an intolerable closeness to the heat, September and the first weeks of October have been always considered the most unhealthy season of the year. The cold weather is not generally thought to be the time most conducive to health, from the coolness of the air giving a check to perspiration, and the heavy dews that then fall at night proving so damp and chilly as to make the least exposure to them be attended with prejudicial consequences. The season commonly considered to be the most healthy is the continuance of the steady north-west hot wind, when a copious perspiration is produced and speedily evaporated off the surface of the body by its warm dry influence, giving a light cheerfulness to the spirits they never can have under the pressure of a sultry, still, and close atmosphere.

TABLE shewing the Temperature and Pressure, and the quantity of Rain fallen, during the years 1827-8.

TABLE shewing the General Direction of the Winds, and the number of Days in which each prevailed.

N. B.-Under NE. is included all the intermediate points from N. to E.; and the same with regard to SE., SW., and NW

P. M., and on the 19th at past 11 A. M., at both times shock very

The sun's rays at setting on the 2d assumed the same appearance as above remarked on the 22d June.

Lunar eclipse on the 3d at to 11 P. M. Bright meteor on the 6th at past 6 P. M.

44

138

VS.