( 164 )
below the average. The excess in Southern Bengal averaged 3 inches, in Eastern
and Northern Bengal it varied considerably, bat averaged about four inches in
excess, whilst it was in defect from one to three inches in Bihar and Chota
Nagpur. At this period the main body of the monsoon current was, although
a strong one, apparently partially diverted to Eastern and Nortnern Bengal,
which consequently received excessive rainfall, while the local storms,
which always form at frequent intervals during the prevalence of the south-
west monsoon, marched at this time from the head of the Bay towards the
area of presistent low pressure in Orissa. This area consequently received
also at this time very heavy rainfall. The rainfall in July was well distributed
throughout the whole month. The current from the Bay was weak during
this month, and the rainfall over the whole area directly dependent on it only
was slightly below the average. Thus in Southern Bengal the total rainfall
for the month averaged about two inches in defect. In Eastern and Northern
Bengal the defect was greater, more especially in the Dhaka and Chittagong
Divisions, where it averaged at least four inches in defect. It was some-
what in excess in Orissa, owing to the occurrence of local storms, formed in
and crossing from the head of the Bay. The Bombay coast monsoon current
was, however, unusually strong, and prevailed in force across the Peninsula to
the foot of the hills in Bihar, and gave it excessive rain and heavy floods.
The rainfall over this area was about six inches in excess of the normal
amount. Rain was again well distributed during the month of August.
The only marked break which occurred was in Bihar and Chota Nagpur,
which lasted from the loth to the 21st. The total rainfall for the month was
everywhere in excess, with a few local exceptions. The rainfall over the
coast area in the north-west angle of the Bay (i.e., in the Orissa and Balasur
districts) was also excessive, due to the passage of a series of north-west
monsoon storms across it. The rains were generally less steady and abundant
in September. A general break in the rains occurred between the 16th and
21st, and another from the 25th to the end of the month, except in Eastern
Bengal. The rainfall was very generally in. defect. In Western Bengal it
was about two inches below the average, in Bihar about four inches, and in
Northern Bengal from five to ten inches. Moderate rain occurred during the
first fortnight of October, and the rains proper may be said to have terminated
on the 19th of this month. Slight occasional showers fell until the 3rd or 4th
of November, The rains thus lasted longer than usual, and the rainfall for
the month of October was generally above the average. In Bengal the excess
averaged about two inches, and was greatest in Northern Bengal and in the
Dhaka district. In Bihar it averaged about one inch, and in Orissa from two
to three inches in excess. The rainfall of November was generally small in
amount, and slightly in defect over the whole province, except Northern Bihar
and Orissa, where rain fell from the 1st to the 7th of the month. The rainfall
of December was also generally small in amount, and was not general over the
province. Light showers fell in Bihar, Eastern and Northern Bengal from
the 12th to the 15th, and in Western Bengal and Orissa on the 18th.
In Eastern and Northern Bengal the rainfall was slightly in excess, about half
an inch in amount. In Western Bengal and Bihar it was, on the other hand,
below the mean for the month by amounts averaging ·2 inch. The rains of
1880 were unusually abundant. They moreover commenced early (on the
1st June), were well distributed over the whole south-west monsoon period,
and terminated later than usual. The excess of the total rainfall of 1880
above the average of previous years, calculated for the various parts of the
province, were—
Bengal
...
...
Bihar
...
+7·88
+ 2·34
Orissa
...
...
Chota Nagpur
...
+16·69
+ 8·64
Food-supply.—The natural consequence of the unusually abundant and well
distributed rainfall was a most favourable one for harvest on the whole. Almost
throughout the province the outturn was above average, in some districts very
considerably so, in only the district of Champaran was it below average, there
were partial failures in six other districts, but they did not affect the food-supply
of the people. This excellent outturn, a general cessation of exports to
neighbouring districts or elsewhere, and to some extent of monopolies in the