246 CLIMATES OF THE EQUATORIAL AND BUSH REGIONS. 



not reach its maximum until we get into the Desert 

 Zone our next division. It is there therefore that 

 the most extreme sun temperatures in the world are 

 recorded, often coupled with intense cold by night. 



These circumstances have given rise to some differ- 

 ences of opinion as to the relative degrees of healthi- 

 ness of the climates in the Bush Country, and those of 

 the Equatorial Zone ; some authors maintaining, that on 

 account of the much more equable climate of the 

 latter (where these tremendous heats are unknown) it 

 is, taken as a whole, a better climate, and less trying 

 to European constitutions, than tropical climates further 

 removed from the equator, where the range of the 

 thermometer is much greater. 



There can be no doubt that there are many ex- 

 tremely unhealthy places in what we have designated 

 as the Bush Country where malarial fevers of severe 

 type are endemic; but taken as a whole, we do not 

 hesitate to give our verdict in its favour. 



There, at any rate, there are some cool hours during 

 the night and early morning, when sound refreshing 

 sleep can be had by those to whom Nature has 

 given constitutions at all suitable for residence in 

 tropical countries; whereas under normal conditions 

 in equatorial countries, the difference between the 

 hottest hour of the day and the coolest hour of the 

 night, is very slight. Then again, there is in the latter, 

 so to speak, no cool season whereas in the regions 

 of single rainy seasons there are always more or less 

 distinctly marked cool seasons, when the country is 

 comparatively healthy. Also apart from the direct 

 influence of great solar heat upon the system, and the 

 risk to Europeans from heat apoplexy, sun-stroke, 



