'MILITARY REPORT ON PERSIA. VOL. IV, PART II.' [‎52r] (108/212)

91
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(c) In all the provinces spring and autumn are the' best
time for military operations. In spring there is more
rain, but seldom sufficient to interfere seriously
with movements, except when, oiving to the pre
sence of mountains, small rivers and streams,
usually nearly, if not quite, dry, become flooded so
as to be quite impassable. There is less rain in
autumn, but Indians and Persians are liable to
fevers, probably oiving to the great difference in
temperatures by day and night.
(a) Fdrs.
General .—Extremes of heat and cold wdll be found in sum. F3rs.
mer and winter respectively in the province. The main road td
Isfahan traverses plains 7,000' above sea level, and deep with
snow in winter for days together, the temperature falling to as low
as 15° F. in -yinte 1, while in summer there is a maximum shade
temperature of 90° F. In consequence, during December and
January it is frequently almost impassable to caravans, especially
as the plains, marshy at all times, are dedp in mud, consequent
upon heavy rains, which commence about the middle of November
and may be expected at intervals till th© beginning of May.
Snow falls at 5,000 and above from 1st December onwards.
On the passes between Shiraz and Kazarfm it may lie for as
long as three weeks, but, as a rule, not more than ten days ; at
such times the road is practically impassable, •
On the other hand in the coastal areas it is intensely hot
from May to September, while in the winter the cold is not
excessive. The nights are cool, and there is a remarkable diffe
rence between the day- and night temperatures in the hottest
months.
Shiraz .—Rain may be expected between November 21st Shir&z.
and April 15th, with occasional showers from the latter date
to May Blsit. Rain rarely falls more than three days in succes-
aion. Snow may be expected at any’ time between December
15th and April 1st, but rarely after that date. It seldom lies
for more than a day on the plain.
The nights are often intensely cold between January 1st
and the middle or end of March. A minimum temperature of
H’F had been recorded in January.