A THUNDERSTORM 73 



which occurs at Kampala on the mainland, a few miles 

 from the lake shore, was unknown during my time on the 

 islands. Another characteristic is that the rain is nearly 

 always accompanied by thunder ; but though this is so 

 frequent one never experiences the oppressive heaviness 

 of atmosphere which precedes a thunderstorm in England. 

 The following is a description of a typical, or as I used 

 to call it a formal, thunderstorm, such as occurs with 

 varying intensity every few days from mid-March to 

 mid- June during the period of heaviest rains. The day 

 has been brilliantly fine, with a hard blue horizon and 

 vivid colouring, and an appearance of nearness of distant 

 objects. There has been a steady breeze all day long, 

 dying away towards sunset, which has perhaps shown 

 for a brief spell a glory of flame-tinted cloudlets. After 

 dark not a cloud is to be seen anywhere, and the stars 

 shine brilliantly. Before turning in at about 8' 30 one 

 takes a look round, but there is nothing to note except 

 a distant flickering of lightning to the south-east, which 

 is practically a nightly occurrence in the rainy season. 



Having seen that tent pegs and ropes are secure, and 

 that the front of the tent can be quickly closed in an 

 emergency, for these storms often give one little time, 

 one turns in, to be not at all surprised at being awakened 

 in the small hours, usually between two and three, 

 by a rumbling of thunder. Stepping outside the tent 

 one sees magnificent piled up masses of inky cumuli 

 illum.inated by almost incessant flickerings of lightning. 

 Sometimes a flash stretching in an arc right across the 

 heavens makes one start with the wonder and, almost, 

 fear of it. 



In the momentary intervals between the rumblings of 

 thunder can be heard a faint musical sound, produced 

 by the downpour of rain on the water, as yet far away. 

 There is nothing to be done but to make sure that the 

 tent is firmly secured, fasten up the door, enduring an 



