DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.20140#0293
group iv: panjab, including the stations west op the indus. 269
The elaboration and the analysis of the meteorological material presented unexpected
results for this province, but they had to be examined with the more precaution;
and it was a fortunate thing that such numerous observations could be obtained.
The provincial literature—such as medical, topographical, monographic, statistical
accounts—had not appeared, as far as I know, for any of the larger stations, in any
form that would allow of my comparing them with those for other provinces. But our own
routes in 1856-7, Adolphe's prolonged stay in 1857, and the directions we had given
our native medical assistant (Harkishen), gave me much personal experience, and also
provided me with the necessary materials for judging, from personal inspection, of the
accuracy of the observations at the various medical stations. Few only of the materials
obtained had to be excluded from the following registers. The greater variation in
the yearly means—in which regard, too, the Panjab decidedly shows the character
of its higher latitude—made it particularly welcome that stations with three years of
observation and even more were very numerous.
The cool season may be said to begin about the middle of October; it lasts till
the beginning of April. The temperature is bracing, refreshing; the mornings are cold,
even for Europeans; the height of the sun at noon is still some 40 degrees, the
more beneficial as the transparency of the atmosphere approaches that of the
Tibetan highlands. The snowy range of the Himalaya frequently becomes visible as
far as Ludhiana, a distance of at least a 100 miles, even if we keep in mind that
in this season of the year not only the peaks (reaching thousands of feet above the
snowline) but also ridges much lower and much nearer the borders present themselves
as marked features in the snowy aspect. It is not unusual, however, that also periods
of a week or more are cloudy; fog is very rare.
In the environs of Peshaur snow has fallen at times, although it disappeared as
soon as it came; near Fort Mackeson, about 20 miles distant from the station, a thick
coating of snow was seen one morning in the middle of January 1851.—Ice half an inch
thick has been observed in ditches; but the regular artificial formation of ice—a few
days excepted—requires, even at places such as Raulpandi, great precaution and care,
as detailed in the description of Hindostan.1
Such unusual formation of natural ice only takes place on very clear and calm nights.
1 See p. 236.
The elaboration and the analysis of the meteorological material presented unexpected
results for this province, but they had to be examined with the more precaution;
and it was a fortunate thing that such numerous observations could be obtained.
The provincial literature—such as medical, topographical, monographic, statistical
accounts—had not appeared, as far as I know, for any of the larger stations, in any
form that would allow of my comparing them with those for other provinces. But our own
routes in 1856-7, Adolphe's prolonged stay in 1857, and the directions we had given
our native medical assistant (Harkishen), gave me much personal experience, and also
provided me with the necessary materials for judging, from personal inspection, of the
accuracy of the observations at the various medical stations. Few only of the materials
obtained had to be excluded from the following registers. The greater variation in
the yearly means—in which regard, too, the Panjab decidedly shows the character
of its higher latitude—made it particularly welcome that stations with three years of
observation and even more were very numerous.
The cool season may be said to begin about the middle of October; it lasts till
the beginning of April. The temperature is bracing, refreshing; the mornings are cold,
even for Europeans; the height of the sun at noon is still some 40 degrees, the
more beneficial as the transparency of the atmosphere approaches that of the
Tibetan highlands. The snowy range of the Himalaya frequently becomes visible as
far as Ludhiana, a distance of at least a 100 miles, even if we keep in mind that
in this season of the year not only the peaks (reaching thousands of feet above the
snowline) but also ridges much lower and much nearer the borders present themselves
as marked features in the snowy aspect. It is not unusual, however, that also periods
of a week or more are cloudy; fog is very rare.
In the environs of Peshaur snow has fallen at times, although it disappeared as
soon as it came; near Fort Mackeson, about 20 miles distant from the station, a thick
coating of snow was seen one morning in the middle of January 1851.—Ice half an inch
thick has been observed in ditches; but the regular artificial formation of ice—a few
days excepted—requires, even at places such as Raulpandi, great precaution and care,
as detailed in the description of Hindostan.1
Such unusual formation of natural ice only takes place on very clear and calm nights.
1 See p. 236.