- SNOWSTORMS IN THE TRANSVAAL. 435 



terest, as showing that similar conditions hold over eastern 

 South America : 



" A very large percentage of the rainfall over eastern South America 

 occurs with a rising barometer and southerly winds whether this condition 

 be produced by the recession of a low pressure or the advance of a high pres- 

 sure. The rainfall is greatest when a low centre is closely followed by a high." 



Exceptionally heavy rains were experienced over eastern 

 South Africa on January 21st, 1909. The rainfall at Joubert 

 Park, Johannesburg', during the 24 hours commencing 9 a.m. 

 January 21st was 7'go inches. The weather map for that day 

 (see fig. 7) shows that a high pressure region is moving round 

 the coast and is displacing (or tending to displace) a low pres- 

 sure region over the Transvaal. The isobars over Natal run in 

 the direction N.E. to S.W., which is usually associated with 

 general rains over eastern South Africa. 



Returning to the subject of snowfall over South Africa, 

 there is a very interesting reference to this in Colvin's 

 " Romance of South Africa." An account is there given of the 

 hardships suffered by Van Riebeck in 1652 owing to the 

 severity of the weather. Heavy rains fell, washing away their 

 gardens and destroying their crops, and it is stated that the 

 cold was very severe ; that there was snow on Table Mountain 

 and hail in the valley. This is probably the earliest reference to 

 snow in South Africa* 



In conclusion, I must express mv sincere thanks to Mr. 

 R. K. Loveday. M.L.A.. to Mr. H. W. Struben, to Mr. George 

 Goch, and to General D. J. E. Erasmus for their invaluable 

 records of early snowstorms over the Transvaal ; to the Govern- 

 ment Astronomer of Natal, and to Mr. J. Lyle. of Bloemfon- 

 tein. for reports on the snowfall in Natal and "the Orange River 

 Colony respectively; and to Mr. R. T. A. Innes. Director of 

 the Transvaal Observatory, for great assistance in preparing 

 this paper. 



Since this paper has been written Mr. W. H. Neethling, 

 senr., of Bosmanspan, district Middelburg, Transvaal, has 

 given in the Transvaal paper Dc Boer an account of some 

 further falls of snow over the High Veld. 



During the month of September, 1854. there was a fall of 

 snow lasting for seven days. Two white people lost their lives, 

 near the bush veld, in searching for strayed oxen. 



About the beginning of June, 1872, there was a heavy snow- 

 fall on the Stenekampsbergen, Oshoek, the snow lying to a 

 depth of 12 inches. Six inches of snow fell during one night 

 in May, 1877. The extent of this fall is unknown. 



During August. 1878, snow fell for four days over the High 

 Veld. On some farms the depth of snow amounted to two 

 feet. Grass was covered for eight days, and there was much 

 loss of stock owing to this. 



Again, in September, 1879, there was a very heavy fall of 

 snow, with strong easterly winds followed by hard frosts. 

 The snow remained lying in sheltered places for a month. 



* Ian D. Colvin : " The Romance of South Africa," page 92. 



