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In November and December the humidity was somewhat greater than usual at
False Point, Sagar, and Calcutta; in November at Darjeeling also; but at
Patna decidedly below the mean in both months. On the whole in 1871 the
air was unusually moist.
Rainfall.-The rainfall of 1871 was unusually heavy in northern India.
In Calcutta it was the greatest on record, exceeding even that of 1868; and
in many parts of the country the floods on the low-lands were of such extent
and depth as to breach the railways and cause serious interruption to the
traffic. In the tea districts of Eastern Bengal, in Lower Assam, and in the
intervening plateau of the Khasi Hills the rainfall was considerably below
the average. Cherapunji received less than three-fifths of its usual quantity.
In Upper Assam the excess was very great, amounting to one-third more than
the average fall. In Orissa, again, as far west as it was greatly in excess in the
western part of the Gangetic delta, in Chota Nagpur, in Northern Bihar, and
Tirhut; it was exceedingly heavy at Chaprah, where it was more than double
the average quantity, and at Sewan. January was a dry month throughout
Bengal, and February scarcely less so. In March there were some heavy
showers, especially in the Midnapur district; and in Lower Bengal the rain-
fall in the month was about twice or three times the average quantity. In
April the rainfall was frequent and copious, and extended over the whole of
Bengal and Bihar. May was in all respects like an average June, except in
the districts north of the delta and in Assam, where, with local exceptions,
the fall was not heavier than usual. From this time up to the end of Septem-
ber the rain poured on steadily in somewhat greater quantity than usual,
and in the latter month, just before the close of the rains, an excessively
heavy fall took place in Tirhut and the adjoining districts of Chaprah
and Champaran. The last three months of the year, on the whole, were
drier than usual.
Wind.-The winds of Bengal, during the first three months of 1871
where such are usual at the time of year, except that in the early part of
January they were somewhat more northerly. In April the fall of
atmospheric pressure in Bihar and Western Bengal was accompanied by a
great weakening of the land winds in that region, and by a veering of those
of the delta towards south south-east and south-east. In May there was a
decided excess of easterly elements, and in the latter half of the month the
winds were such as characterise the south-west monsoon, but more easterly
than usual, especially in Bihar. During these months the velocity of the winds
was much below the average, and this again is characteristic of the monsoon
as contrasted with the hot-weather. This excess of easterly winds continued
during June, and it was not until July that the monsoon assumed its normal
character. On the return of the winter monsoon in October and November,
the land winds set in much as usual in Bihar, but in Bengal were less steady,
and up to the close of the year the west or north-west winds were weaker
than the average.
On the whole, the year 1871 was characterised by early and excessive
rainfall, a temperature lower during the hot months and rains, but somewhat
above the average during November and December, a greater amount of
humidity and of cloud; more easterly winds in April, May, and June; and
generally throughout the year, weaker winds than usual.
Food-supply.-No reliable information is available regarding the prices
of the principal food-grains, or the p. ices of labour in the several districts of
the Bengal Province for 1871. The inundations above alluded to caused
considerable damage to the crops over some extended areas, and produced
more or less local suffering and distress among the poorest classes; but there
does not appear to have been any wide spread or general distress or scarcity
from these causes.