120 THE KINGDOM OE UGANDA 



garments. The actual shock of being out for some minutes, or half an 

 hour, in this douche of cold water may cause collapse, or produce 

 pneumonia, which may be fatal in three days. 



These considerations, in the absence of properly constructed houses or 

 tents warranted to resist a hurricane, cause one to view with serious 

 apprehension the approach of every storm, and at places like Entebbe 

 there must be nearly 200 storms in tlie year. They generally 

 come on at three o'clock in the afternoon or three o'clock in the 

 morning. The day or the night has been extremely hot, and there 

 has been an utter absence of movement in the air. Over the sea horizon 

 of the lake purple clouds begin to form, which, as they rise and cover 

 the heavens, turn to an awful monotonous dun-grey, becoming whitish 

 over the storm centre, with one or two little patches of blackish cloud 

 floating over this dirty-white focus. The whole sk}^ is almost covered 

 before the storm bursts. As a first warning (if it be daylight), the glassy 

 surface of the lake near its horizon becomes ruled with lilack lines which 

 are the advancing billows of the wind-lashed water. Then in the distance 

 arises the sound of a rushing wind which comes nearer and nearer until 

 trees a hundred yards distant are seen to be swaying and cracking, whilst 

 there is still a deadly calm where you are standing. Then the blast 

 strikes you, being preceded ])Ossibly by a cloud of blinding dust or a scjuall 

 of leaves. Doors slam in the houses ; unfastened windows are wrenched 

 off tlieir hinges, and the i)apers and light articles in the rooms are 

 whirled liither and thither, while in the garden or forest hard by branches 

 crack and loosely rooted trees fall to the earth with a frightening crash. 

 If you are in a tent and watching this storm, in all probability the 

 first impact of the wind has levelled your canvas to the ground, and all 

 your treasured belongings on your camp-table and your bed are exposed 

 to the rain which is now approaching. This is nothing less than a cubic 

 mile of grey water which is being driven towards you at fifteen miles an 

 hour. In this moving shower-bath you remain for thirty minutes or 

 more; then if you have survived this, there may be a lull. Then another 

 cubic mile of water will be driven up and over you. 



At last the storm settles down into a fine, steady downpour, and the 

 worst is over. But the lightning ! If it be night-time when the storm 

 comes up, you will see when the j^urple clouds first form over the lake 

 horizon that they are lit up every minute or so by silent flashes, 

 revealing with temporary vividness the shapes of the cumulus clouds. 

 Then for a time the coruscations cease, until the heavens are one pall of 

 dun-grey cloud. Almost simultaneously with the arrival of the hurricane 

 wind comes the first flash of pink lightning, followed immediately by an 

 explosion of thunder which seems to be the crack of doom. If your own 



