NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS.

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NOTE IV. Sect. I. p. 17.

It is surprising that Alexander did not receive, in the pro-vinces contiguous to India, such an account of the periodic-al rains in that country, as to show him the improprietyof carrying on military operations there, while these conti-nued. His expedition into India commenced towards theend of Spring, Arrian, lib. iv. c. 22, when the rains werealready begun in the mountains from which all the riversin the Panjab flow, and of course they must: have been con-siderably swelled before he arrived on their banks. Rennell,p. 268. — He passed the Hydafpes at Midsummer , aboutthe height of the rainy season. In a country through whichso many large rivers run, an army on service at this timeof the year must have suffered greatly. An accurate descrip-tion of the nature of the rains and inundations in this partof India, is given by Arrian, lib. v. c. 9.; and one stillfuller may be found in Strabo, lib. xv. 1013. — It was ofwhat they suffered by these that Alexander’s soldiers com-plained, Strabo, lib. xv. 1021. D.; and not without rea-son , as it had rained incessantly during seventy days , Diod.Sicul. xvii. c. 94..— A circumstance which marks the ac-curacy with which Alexander’s officers had attended to everything in that part of India, deserves notice. . Aristobulus,in his Journal, which ! have mentioned, takes notice that,though heavy rains fell in the mountains, and in the countrynear to them, in the plains below not so much as a showerfell. Strabo , lib. xv, 1013. B. 1013. B. Major Ren-nell was informed by a person of character, who had residedin this district of India , which is now seldom visited byEuropeans, that during great part of the S. W. monsoon,or at least in the months of July, August, and part ofSeptember, which is the rainy season in most other partsof'India , the atmosphere in the Delta of the Indus is ge-nerally clouded , but no rain falls , except very near thesea. Indeed, very few showers fall during the whole season,

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