'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOLUME II' [‎36v] (77/706)

€0 - AZ ARB AI JAN
I
Some bottles of wine froze although covered with straw and many
of the copper ewers were split by the expansion of the water when frozen
in them. Towards the end of February the weather became comparatively
mild but on the 1st of May we had a fall of snow and such cold weather
that it destroyed all the vegetation. Afterwards the weather became
very warm, and they began to cut their corn on the the 15th July. The
winter in Azarbaljan is all the more severely felt from the almost total want
of fuel, the only substitute for which is dried cowdung mixed with straw.”
The following summary of meteorological observations, for the years 1890,
1891,1893, 1894 , will give a good idea of the climatic conditions obtaining :—
Climatic averages taken from the, years 1S90 — 94.
Month.
Prevailing wind.
Snow and Rain.
Temperature.
(Average.)
Maximum.
Minimum,
January
E., and S. E. Light
5—6 days’ snow ..
32
6
February
E., and S. E. Light
7 days’ snow
41
7
March ..
E. Light
3 days’ snow, 1 dayV
rain.
57
18
April ..
Variable. Light to
strong.
3—4 days’ rain
68
40 •
May
Variable. Light ..
5 days’ rain
77
46
June ..
E. Light (some
strong).
Very little rain
88
60
July ..
E. Light
(about 10 days strong)
Ditto
91
65
August
E. Light to fair ..
Nil.
92
69
September
E. Light
Nil.
90
56
October
E., and S. E. Light
3 days’ rain
72
51
November
Variable.- Light
6 days’ rain, a little
snow.
61
35
December
E., and S. E. Light.
1 day’s rain 3 days’
snow.
46
21
The climate, as in all places situated at high altitudes, has the effect of
quickening the breathing and circulation, and of making the people more
nervous and excitable than those living in the lower plains.
The climate is generally dry, rigorous and healthy. Fever is rare except
in some few low and swampy valleys, such, for instance, as Khoi; and those,
who survive the early years of their existence grow up strong and healthy.
The mortality amongst the children is very high, 60 to 70 per cent, being
the ordinary loss. The carelessness and ignorance of the people rather than
the climate are probably responsible for this excessive death-rate.
The following notes on specific forms of disease
were obtained from Dr. Adcock of Tabriz.
All forms of zymotic diseases are common, and diseases of the eyes
(ophthalmia and its consequences) perhaps occur more frequently than