[QO

INDIA

respectively. Whilst the south-west monsoon is filling the
western area with vapour, and clouds are hanging on the
western slopes of the hills which culminate about the
central portions of the southern half of the island, the
castern slopes and plains may be free from anything

*neomali

fticalos

CEYLON
SROGRAPHICAL

»
Wo

Fic. 60.

approaching to excessive rain; and the climate may be
not only tolerable, but on the higher levels actually
bracing. When the monsoon turns about, and in obedience
 to laws explained elsewhere in reference to India,
brings with it sheets of rain from the Bay of Bengal, then
it is that the western districts have a chance of respite
from the prolonged vapour-bath atmosphere in which
they have been enveloped. But the operation of the