Indian Antiquary Vol 61

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, S Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarka
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 44

THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[ FEBRUARY, 1932
direction and intensity of cyclonic storms in the Bay of Bengal. A subsidiary station was therefore set up at Nancowry Harbour on the British assumption of possession in 1869 and properly maintained while the penal settlement lasted there till 1888, and after a fashion thereafter till 1897, when it was removed to Mus in Car Nicobar.
The climate generally is that of the islands of similar latitude ; very hot except when raining, damp, rain throughout the year, generally in sharp heavy showers, unwholesome for Europeans, in places dangerously subject to malaria. The weather is generally unsettled, especially in the south. The islanders are exposed to both monsoons with easterly and north-easterly gales from November to January, and south-westerly gales from May to September; smooth weather only from February to April and in October; occasionally visited by cyclones (recorded instances, May 1885, March 1892). The normal barometric readings (five years in Nancowry Harbour) vary between 29.960 and 29-797, being highest in January and lowest in June.
The rainfall varies much from year to year as will be seen from the following table And diagraol :
Rainfall in inches annually at Nancoury, 1874 to 1888. 1873-74 ..
94.24 1874
.. 108.14 1875
.. 99.97 1876
.. 136.55 1877
108.55 1878
.. Not given. 1879
109.72 1880
.. 101.96 1881
.. 127.61 1882
143. 24 1883
122.35 1884
109.62 1885
93.04 1886
.. 143.91 1887
. .. .. .. 165.44 1888
.. .. .. .. .. .. 128.29 The chief moteorological statistics for five years at the Penal Settlement in Nancowry Harbour are given below :
1881. 1885. 1886. 1887. 1888.
TEMPERATURE. Mean highest in shade .. May 91.3 April 916 April 91.9 July 86.5 April 91.2 Mean lowest in shade . Dec. 74.5 Dec. 73.3 Dec. 71.8 Feby. 72.2 Jany. 72.2 Highest in shade .. May 92-2 May 95.4 Aug. 98.2 April 90.6 May 97.4 Lowest in shade .. July 70.3 Sept. 71.0 Dec. 64.0 Mar. 66-4 Jany. 68.8 Dry bulb mean .. 83.3 844
82.7
83.9 Wet bulb mean .. 77.5 78.1 76.6
77.2
77.8
RAINFALL. Most wet days in a month. May 21 July 23 Novr. 23 May 27 Septr. 22 Hex viest fall in a month. May 21.75 Dec. 17.00 Novr. 25.23 Novr. 20-41 Oetr. 27.63 Total fall in year
106
128 133
123 Total wet days
.. 148
157 170 222
148
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