Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-07-27
Hot Weather In British lndiu.

Ii India the hot weather, or dry season. .a't
from about March Is to June Is. aod the tEer'
mometer gradually rises till, from April Is
onward, it may register anywhere from lGo
degrees TO llS degrees 10 the shade. Th'oo
registrations arc taken, not from Thermometers
hung anywhere against wall or tree, bat from
thermometers placed where they are unaft cted
by any radiation from heat absorbing body,
and are exposed only 10 the actua! heat OF the
atmosphere.
ln various parts Of the Indian peninsula the
climates and temperatures vary. A'oug tho
coast the thermometer will seldom 20 higher
than los degrees. and will not often reach Thai
height. But tho 'cold weather temperature
will not reach much below G5, il at all. remain
ing constantly between 70 and 100 through
changes of tho seasons. "Up country. as
going inland is called, where the attitudes are
high, the range Of the thermometer IS more tx
tensive, and in tho cold nights OF the cold season
will drop down to the freezing point, The collest
hours of tho twenty.four being from 3 to 5 u.
ID. With the rising sun. the atmospher'
warns up till ct . D. m. it is at its create i:
tervidity, being then, in most provinces, sn i
as Dude. the Puuiaub, Rohicund, etc OF b."
GAL about G5 degrees or 20 degrees. lL"
coldest weather is in late December or early
January, and with the growing days the thcr
momcter rises.
During the Winter in those "up.counlry'
localities fires of wood are nearly always TO be
found burning during the night and early
morning iu the houses ef Europeans and, Ia
deed, in those OF the netives. All European
houses are there built with chimneys and fire
places in at least one room. AS tho days grow
longer and the warmth increases, the llres are
discarded and cooler garments adopted. HE
overcoat is set aside and the linen duscr Al
sumed-the walking stick is replaced ty the
umbrella, aud tatties are ordered to be made.
The tattie is the great institution OF BRITISH
India. 1t is double diamond frame OF split
bamboo. with tho space between the t@'
frames loosely yet firmly padded with lhe
roots Of the Gus Gus grass. These roots ars
porous and fragrant, and, when molsened with
water, emit their fragrance TO the air.
During tho "hot weather" tborc Is always A
wind blowing-a hot, burning blast, more Of
less strong, which Sweeps ever the and pliIo,
thirsliug for water. Sometimes 1t shifts about
from point to point, but generally It il constant
from tho south or souLhery. Ali houses are
built which French windows opening t. The
groual, and with these on all sides 10 adult
every breeze and encourage thorough drausht,
Up near the ceiling are small windows butt
like trsnsoms, aud closed or opeucd al will by
means Of cords. AS the weather becomes
warmer tho 'cus-cus tattlcb' arc Tilted 10 al
the doors and lower windows; tubes for wate9
arc placed beside each tattie, or between tW'.
aud two or more coolies, according to he ~
of tho house, are hired. Their duties are to
provide constant water supply for the tube.
to keep tho tattics ever moist, aud to trim ship,
as it were-i. e., to keep the draught from end
nd IF hn CD
But there are days when there ia no breeze
when the fervor Of the sum scorches up even the
energy Of the smoom and leave. ths whole al
mosphere still, bresthess oven. 10 counlnt-
act this evil, the thermantldoto has teen H.
vented. 1t IS large box containing an axle,
which CROSSES from side to side; to this axle are
fixed four to six fans radiasing from the centre.
and extending 10 within an inch OF tho top, bot
tom and sides. The front ond OK this box ls clon-
gated into window or door, and tho remain
Ing space is carefully boarded up around the
tunnel, and made rs air tight as possible. The
open sides of the theJmsntidote is lifted with
"cus Gus tstties," and clstern is 50 arranged
that constant supply of wator is given 10y
means of pierced troughs placed over them to
the tatties Of the thermantidote. The machine
s now ready for Work. The motor is cooie,
who turns crank attacked 10 the axle ottha fan.
To multiply the revolutions of this ian. cog
wheel attachment and belt arc often resortcd t.,
but this requires more motor power.
atmosphere cool. There are huge swinging
fans, made of wooden frame work covered
with canvas, to the lower edge o. which is at
tached heavy deep fringe These punFahs
a:e slung to the beams OF the roof by stout cords
and from one side q cane (rattan) passes out
through small hole in the wall TO the outside
or verandah Of the house Two or moro these
fans may be connected together from room to
room and kept constantly swinging By tho motor
without-the ever-present coolie.
TsaLz al, 1D1l;n lid MT hn hLh
able. He works hard With patient, unwsver-
| ing purpose--works we'll and chosply. For cne
dollar q month he and his mate will keep lhe
| punkab ever swinging, and they raroy FAINT or
| fail. Sleep they DO. and often at their poEt. bu'
| stll without reinquishing the automatic laoor'
! With these varied appliances. the heated almos'
phere, which causes the Thermometer TO register
| lis and ll8 degrees in the shade, is toned down
to 80 degrees. IS degrees and even 70 degrees
| In such an atmosphere one can Drea'he' move
1 l,uo