xxn RIVERSIDE LETTERS 175 



We are again experiencing a severe 

 drought ; and its effects are very serious 

 to the farmers around here, where sheep- 

 farming is one of the chief industries. The 

 flocks depend largely on roots for their food 

 in winter, and I have been told that unless 

 we get some copious showers during the next 

 fortnight the root crop will be entirely ruined, 

 so you can imagine how anxiously the rain is 

 longed for. 



The long continued prevalence of northerly 

 winds which has characterised the last six or 

 seven years is very remarkable, and I cannot 

 help associating it in some way with that 

 peculiar white glare which has been so sel- 

 dom absent from the sun during this period. 

 This glare is seen, when there are no clouds 

 about, pervading the sky, in the neighbour- 

 hood of the sun, most conspicuously in the 

 mornings and evenings. I have pointed it 

 out to friends here frequently, and am as- 

 tonished that little or no notice is taken of 

 it by those expert in meteorological matters. 



