4
January being the coldest with an average mean temperature of 65.9° F., and
June the warmest with an average of 87.6° F. The months from April to
October show a mean maximum temperature of 89° F. and the months from
November to March a mean maximum of 75° F. (Table 1—page 30).
2. The rainfall is slight and precarious and is not confined to the
usual monsoon season of Bombay, viz., June to October, but often happens
in December and January. Nor is it ever a one long downpour. Excluding
the last two abnormal years, the average annual rainfall varies from 5 to
7 inches. The rainfall being slight, only two seasons can be said to exist.
The months of December and January are characterised by strong dust
storms.
The following table shows the annual rainfall for the last 11 years:—
1902
1903
1904
1905
1906
1907
Year.
Number of
rainy
days.
10
8
7
9
10
10
Inches.
10.99
4.58
4.62
3.31
6.92
7-75
1908
1909
1910
1911
1912
Year.
...
...
...
Number of
rainy
days.
7
•8
10
10
3
Inches.
€•46
7.09
12.03
4.94
3.17
An important work was carried out in the diversion of the main branch
of the Lyari river, a stream which, though dry for a great part of the year, at
times descends with an extraordinary velocity and volume. Some portion rushes
into the town and remains for a fortnight after in pools till it dries.
3. Humidity, etc.—The atmosphere is generally dry from November to
March, when the lowest relative humidity of 56 occurs in December. During
November, December and January it remains fairly uniform till it reaches its
maximum of 84 in July, when the monsoon winds begin blowing. The south-
west winds prevail during 8 months of the year and this added to the low
situation of the town and stagnant pools in the break-waters that surround it,
make the climate humid and moist. The wind blows from west-south-west
and its maximum velocity of 21 miles per hour is attained in June or July. By
November the direction changes to North-East and then to North-West. The
roads in the town lead straight from the harbour, and there are also very
large open areas. The houses are mostly two-floored. All these combine
to make the wind acutely felt in almost all parts of the town. (Tables 2
and 3).
Section 3.
1. Population.—The population of Karachi according to the census
of 1911 is 159,270, including 11,394 souls residing in
Cantonment limits, showing an increase of 43,863
over that of 1901. This large number is very unevenly distributed over
different areas. 27,810 are located in the small area of 217.24 acres between
Bunder Road, Napier Road and Lyari River; the density of the population
being 128.02 per acre. The Lyari quarter accounts for another 32,000 on an
acreage of 919; the density being 34.79 per acre. The next two in point of
congestion are the Runchore with 17,000 and Garden Quarter with 12,000.
That is 3/5th of the total population is located in that portion of old Karachi
beyond Bunder Road. Kiamari and the Harbour account for only 8,000.
2. Karachi, fifth in 1901 and fourth now among the towns of the Pre-
sidency, has increased 38 per cent. in spite of plague which has claimed nearly
25,000 victims. There are 39 industrial enterprises in the city, employing a
total of 4,000 artisans. The most important are the Port Trust Engineering
and the Tramway Company's shops. There are 5 metal working establishments,
8 grain mills, 3 quarries, 3 tanneries, besides a few printing presses, bulk oil
companies, coach building and thread factories and one bone mill. The