A Thunderstorm 



along it I really mean wheeling my cycle along it. 

 A terrific thunderstorm preceded me, and it was 

 a sight to see the forked lightning playing incess- 

 antly among the pitch-black clouds, which collided 

 together intermittently with terrific claps. 



The storms arrive very suddenly ; but you are 

 given about a minute's warning of their approach, as 

 they are always preceded by a terrific wind, behind 

 which you can perceive a thick grey curtain of rain 

 advancing stolidly towards you. Then comes a 

 brief hush, followed by heavy drops, which are the 

 vanguard of the downpour. In less than a minute 

 you are drenched through. You can scarcely open 

 your eyes ; water flows all round you ; streams are 

 formed in a twinkling ; you cannot see to move ; and, 

 above all, the deafening crashes of thunder seem 

 almost to shake the earth. 



Whilst you remain standing in helpless inactivity, 

 wondering what on earth to do, the rain ceases 

 abruptly. You behold the storm sweeping on ahead 

 of you, and a second after out pops the smiling sun, 

 and very soon scarce a trace can be seen of Nature's 

 frown, but for a sparkle here and there at the tips of 

 the leaves or the tops of the grasses. 



To any visitor to Uganda these thunderstorms 

 are most awe-inspiring. They are a distinct feature 

 of the country, whose atmosphere seems charged 

 with electricity. 



How delighted I was at last to see a green patch 

 in the distance, where my boys had erected my tent, 

 and had everything ready and comfortable for me. 



7Z 



