'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎73] (89/496)

Ixxiii
wooded hills, to attract the moisture from the atmosphere. This is the case with
Malwa, which is the most favored tract in India, I believe, above the Nerbudda,
except that of the valley of the Ganges, and the tract between the Ganges and
the chain of the Himalayahs, which draws so largely from the moisture brought up
from the Bay of Bengal. I do not recollect ever having read any speculations on
the subject of these prevailing winds, as regards India ; nor have I ever heard any
one speak of them ; nor am I aware that any one but myself has noticed them,—
except those who keep boats on lakes and rivers, who calculate upon them as con
ducive to their amusements in sailing.”
Several letters of very great interest from Dr Ford, at Hoshungabad, were
laid on the table. The following is an extract from one of them
“ By the end of next month I hope to have three Barometers at work, and I
purpose to institute a rigid comparison between their indications and Wollaston’s
Thermometers. I very strongly suspect that their respective fluctuations do not
entirely depend upon atmospheric pressures purely, especially as relate to the Ther
mometer ; but that the temperature of water is influenced to a great degree by the
quantity of electricity present in the atmosphere. It is however a very delicata
enquiry, and I much fear far beyond my mental capability for such research. I can
only offer my suspicion of the cause : that there is at present an irreconcileable
discrepancy, I cannot doubt.
“ We have had lately rather extraordinary weather, and the latter half of
February different from what 1 have hitherto experienced here. It was close,
hazy and dry—and a similar state of matters has continued to this day (16tii
March.) Last evening the clouds began to collect, the atmosphere having been
highly charged with electricity for four days, the electrometer (Cavalla’s) readily
indicating the amount, and the least friction causing considerable excitation.
Pressure and dryness have somewhat increased, and I cannot therefore augur rain
at present, but either another earthquake or a thunder and dust-storm. On the
20th of last month we had half a gale blowing the greater part of the day, th 0
mean of Barometer having descended in three days from 29 949 to 29*684!
Prognosticating an earthquake at Hoshungabad is somewhat akin to a pig seeing
the wind, but I only hint at such a phenomena from the consciousness that there
is something very peculiar just now in the atmosphere, and from the fact that the
instruments seem as strangely affected as the senses.
Can you tell me the precise Lat. and Long, of Bombay ? and what formula yon
use to obtain the sunrise and sunset given in your journal. It is an anomaly that
the geographical positions of Calcutta and Bombay, when both have Observatories,
are not to be found in the Nautical Almanac 1 At present with the Lat. and
Long, from the Gazetteer, I do not come to the periods fixed by you for rise and
set at Bombay.’ ,
The following extract indicates a degree of ingenuity and dexterity in the re
pair of injured instruments very rarely met in with, and which, where no
instrument-makers were at hand, was as valuable as it was rare
“On the 17th instant, I commenced my threatened project of repairing the
Barometer by the addition of a well-turned piece of iron tubing to make up for