108 SHEET LIGHTNING IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



thunderstorms ; but they would merely be a repetition 

 of similar scenes, recounted with fresh details. We 

 may, however, say that in South Africa, what are 

 called " dry storms, " that is to say thunderstorms 

 unaccompanied by rain, are generally considered more 

 dangerous, and are much more dreaded than the 

 common form with torrential rain. The whole of the 

 " karroo country " is subject during certain seasons to 

 the occurrence of tremendous thunderstorms, and in 

 some of the drier regions the greater part of the rain- 

 fall of the year occurs during the prevalence of the 

 summer thunderstorms. * 



The exceedingly dry climate of South Africa seems 

 to be peculiarly favourable to the exhibition of electrical 

 phenomena, and during the summer heats nearly 

 every evening after sundown brilliant displays of sheet 

 lightning may be witnessed, which last well into the 

 night. The scenic effects are often splendid and some- 

 times resemble, in the constant play of fire, the appear- 

 ance of a city burning in the distance. The delicious 

 temperature of the nights is at this time most charm- 

 ing. The sheet lightning is not accompanied by rain : 

 there is no dew; and in these dry regions one can 

 sit out under the brilliantly starlit sky, without the 

 slightest risk from damp, to any hour that may be 

 desired, enjoying the most delightful repose. 



According to the guide-books Natal seems to be 

 peculiarly subject to heavy and sudden thunderstorms 

 which sweep over the country during the hot months ; 

 we were not, however, ourselves long enough in that 

 colony to be able to express an opinion as to this; 

 but it is stated, that 



* Brown's South African Guide, 1893, p. 41. 



