After such rains the cold increases--the spirits rise--the breezes freshen--the crops look strong--the harvest is retarded--the grain gets more sap and becomes perfect--the cold season is prolonged, as the crops remain longer green, and continue to condense the moisture of the surrounding atmosphere.

Without such late rain, the crops ripen prematurely, the grain becomes shrivelled, and defective both in quantity and quality.

While the rain lasts, however, a large camp is a wretched scene; for few of the men, women, and children, and still fewer of the animals it contains, can find any shelter at all! _January_ 12, 1850.-At Nawabgunge, still detained by rain.

The Minister had ordered out tents for himself and suite on the 8th, but they had not come up, and I was obliged to lend him one of my best, and some others as they came up, or they would have been altogether without shelter.

When he left them on the 10th, his attendants cut and took away almost all the ropes, some of the kanats or outer walls, and some of the carpets.