'REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY FOR THE YEAR 1878-79’ [‎154v] (313/759)

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BOMBAY ADMINISTRATION REPORT,
[1878.79.
where a few light showers fell in April and May. In June there
was a general deficiency, except in Gujarat and the Konkan
where about the average quantity fell. On the Deccan, however
the supply was scarcely more than half the average, and gave
rise to some little anxiety with regard to agricultural prospects.
In July the fall was everywhere above the average, except
along the Sahyadri range, where, although heavy, it was a little
less than usual. The northern division of the Deccan received
during this month more than twice the normal quantity. In
August there was a further general increase varying from a
quarter to three times more than usual, and amounting, on the
average, to twice the ordinary fall. September was also exces
sively wet, except in Sind. On the Deccan from two to two and
a half times the usual quantity of rain fell during this month,
In October, also, the rainfall was generally much above the aver
age. On the whole, the rainfall throughout the Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. was
in excess of the normal quantity, and very equally well distri
buted, no long-continued period of unusually dry weather
having been experienced in any district from the beginning of
July to the end of the monsoon.
Physical Relations of the Meteorological Phenomena.
The foregoing description of the more salient features of the
various abnormal meteorological variations, constitutes a brief
history of the meteorological peculiarities of the year 1878. The
relations that are traceable amongst these variations now re
main to be worked out, and compared with the results obtain
ed from the variations of previous years. It has already been
pointed out that the mean monthly abnormal variations of ba
rometric pressure were, on the whole, similar at all the stations,
and that the abnormal change of pressure from the first to the
last quarter of the year was (except at Poona, where the baro
metric change seems to some extent doubtful) almost identical
at every station. These movements cannot, therefore, be regarded
as simple variations of the great annual oscillation of pressure;
since, if the abnormal changes of pressure were of that character,
they would probably be much greater at the northern than at the
southern stations. This does not imply, however, that such
variations did not occur during 1878, but only that they happen
to be almost eliminated in the monthly averages of pressure.
Indeed, numerous barometric oscillations of the usual type (viz.,
of upwards of four days’ duration, and increasing in magni
tude from south to north like the great annual fluctuation)
occurred during the year, and it seems reasonable to regard all
such movements as simply of the nature of rapid changes towards
the normal pressures of a more advanced season, and back again
towards those normal to the time of the year immediately antece
dent. It is to such barometric movements as these, combined
with others of a more or less cyclonic character, that the succes
sive “ bursts” and “ breaks” of the rainy season appear to be
due. But the prolonged continuance of unusually wet or dry
weather to such an extent as to materially influence the general
character of the whole of a rainy season, appears to depend largely,
if not almost wholly, on extensive barometric movements o