1 SINDE. 209
2 time dangerous, and nearly impracticable. Notwithstanding the
3 discrepancy in our information on the subject, there can be little
4 doubt that, throughout Sinde, the climate is generally too dry for
5 the purposes of agriculture, except in the parts irrigated by means
6 of the river. On this subject the Ameer of Khyerpoor remarked
7 to Burnes,4 that rain always brought disease, and that they ‘Pers. Narr. 37.
8 were better without it. ‘The temperature is very high in sum-
9 mer. Lord states the mean maximum of the temperature of 5 62.
10 the atmosphere at Hyderabad, during the six hottest months, to
11 be 98°5° in the shade, and considers it the greatest* hitherto
12 registered in an authenticated form. The water of the Indus
13 at that time attains the temperature of 92° or 93° when highest,
14 and consequently very nearly bloodsheat. There appears reason
15 for concluding that the temperature is still higher in Northern
16 Sinde, where the cooling influence of the ocean cannot extend.
17 Burnes ® states it at 96° at Khyerpoor in the beginning of April. * pers. Narr. 57.
18 In Northern Sinde, however, frost is not unknown, and ice has
19 been observed in February.? In January the difference of the ? Hough, 60.
20 temperature at night and during the day has been found as
21 much as 40°, the thermometer ranging to 84° and upwards. So
22 high, however, in general is the temperature in Lower Sinde,
23 that there is, in fact, no winter.8 The great heat in summer, Seesiarbog om
24 the innumerable stagnant pools left by the inundation, and Sinde, Jour. of
25 the decaying vegetable matter deposited on the surface or mixed ian oe
26 with the soil, produce in many places pestilential exhalations 99 ya, 909,
27 very fatal to health, especially in strangers, and in the dry season
28 the winds sweep from the surface vast clouds of dust impregnated
29 with common salt and nitre, highly injurious to the lungs, and
30 still more to the eyes. The unwholesome nature of the water
31 obtained from the wells increases the evils of the climate, and
32 produces fatal complaints of the bowels, liver, and urinary
33 organs. Violent catarrh or influenza is ‘at some periods of the
34 year general. Fever! and ague prove very fatal in moist situa- ' Pott. ses.
35 tions, and Kennedy informs us that the British force stationed at
36 Tatta? ‘* suffered a sickness and mortality beyond all he had ever 2 4, 917,
37 known among native troops in India.” The most unwholesome® » po La Hoste, on
38 the Country be-
39 communication is closed, during the monsoon, for the months of May, June, tween Kurrachee
40 : and Sehwnn, in
41 July, and a portion of August. Jour. of As. Soc.
42 * Lord quotes Wood, but his tables, as given in Curless, do not shew so Beng. 1840, p. 914.
43 high a temperature.
44 VOL. II. Pr