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nevertheless very clearly marked. The average pressure for the year was
below the mean for all Bengal generally from the beginning of the year until
the end of May. In April and in June it varied very slightly from the mean
distribution; it was in excess over the whole province during July; in August
it was very similar to that of June; and during the remainder of the year
it was steadily below the average, the deficiency increasing until December.
One effect of diminished pressure experience has shown to be to give a steady
south-west monsoon current and favourable rains.
Temperature.-The mean temperature for the year was slightly in excess
of the average generally at all stations. It was steadily in excess during the
first five months, except at Alipur and False Point where the defect was very
great, particularly in January; more irregular and in excess in March;
excessive in April, and less excessive in May. During the rains from June to
the end of September, it was generally slightly in defect. In October it was
again slightly in excess, but in November and December it was below the
average; in the latter month considerably so. The increased temperature in
April and May was mainly due to excessive temperature during the day.
Rainfall.-The rainfall of the whole year was very considerably below the
average (about 20 inches) in the whole of the Burdwan Division and over the
greater part of the Presidency and Dacca Divisions, the deficiency varying
greatly. On the other hand, it was very considerably in excess over the whole
of Bihar and Northern Bengal, the excess averaging 8·25 inches. No rain fell
at the great majority of stations in the month of January. The fall in Feb-
ruary was moderate and most general over Bihar and Northern Bengal.
March, like January, was a very dry month, except in Orissa and a few stations
in Southern Bengal. The rainfall of April was irregularly distributed, and
was generally deficient in amount, none having fallen in Bihar, Chota Nagpur,
and Orissa, and occasional showers having occurred in Southern, Eastern, and
Central Bengal, and moderate rain in the Rajshahi and Kuch Bihar Divisions
of Bengal. The deficiency was very marked in Eastern Bengal and the Presi-
dency Division. Moderate rain, generally in defect of average, occurred over
the whole of Bengal and Orissa, and also over the greater part of Bihar, during
May. The only districts which received little or none were Patna, Gya, and
Shahabad. Excessive rainfall, however, occurred at Darjiling, Julpiguri, and
Orissa. The rains set in early in June, but in consequence of the abnormal
distribution of pressure the Bay of Bengal current was diverted more
strongly than usual to Burmah and the Arracan Coast, and its influence in
South-Western Bengal was consequently much less than usual. The Bombay
Coast current was, however, unusually strong, and its influence prevailed as far
westward as Chota Nagpur and Bihar, almost to the exclusion of the Bay of
Bengal current. The rainfall of this month was generally in excess in Eastern
and Northern Bengal, and over nearly the whole of Bihar. On the other hand,
it was defective over the whole of the Burdwan Division, the 24-Parganahs,
Orissa, and Chota Nagpur. The rainfall of the month of July was some-
what more irregularly distributed than that of the preceding month, but the
general character of the distribution was the same as in June. It was exces-
sive generally in Northern and Eastern Bengal and over the whole of Bihar,
and slightly in Chota Nagpur. It was, however, in defect over the whole of
the Burdwan Division, in the 24-Parganahs mostly, and in Orissa. The rain-
fall in August was more irregular than in July. It was in excess over the
greater part of Eastern and Northern Bengal, but the excess was generally
small in amount. It was also in excess over the whole of Northern Bihar,
Purnia being the centre of the excess in this area. It was also slightly in excess
(for the first time during the rains) in Orissa. But it was deficient over the
whole of the Bardwan Division, the 24-Parganahs, Jaisur, and Murshidabad,
and also over the greater part of Chota Nagpur. The deficiency was greatest
in the Bardwan Division. The month of September was characterized by a
stormy influx of aqueous vapour and by heavy rainfall over nearly the
whole of Bengal and Bihar. The only districts in which the rainfall was
below the average were Hugli and the greater part of the Dhaka and Chitta-
gong Divisions. Northern Bengal and Bihar received exceptionally heavy
local rainfalls, due in one or two cases to local storms. Several small storms
occurred during the month near the head of the Bay. They advanced across