THE STEPPES OF INNER AFRICA. 173 



the destructive termites. 39 Hungrily the wind rushes through the 

 clefts and fissures of the earth, sweeps out dust, sand, and gravel, 

 hurls this even into the clouds, and bears it onwards with such 

 force that it recoils stinging and rattling from hard surfaces. With 

 this dust the tempest hides the heavens and covers the earth, and 

 turns the day into dread night, while the anxious inhabitants in 

 their dust-filled houses light lanterns to gain what encouragement 

 and consolation they may from the sight of living flame. 



But even the roaring hurricane may be out-roared. The crash- 

 ing, rumbling thunder is yet more mighty; it drowns the howling 

 and bellowing of the wind. The clouds of dust are still too thick 

 to allow the lightning flashes to be seen; but soon to the confusion 

 of sounds and noises a hitherto unheard rattling is added, and the 

 unnatural night begins to be relieved by gleams of light. It seems 

 as if heavy hailstones were rattling down, but they are only rain- 

 drops which bear with them in falling the up-whirled dust and sand. 

 Now the flashes are seen. One follows so quickly upon another that 

 we are forced to close our dazzled, well-nigh blinded, eyes, and to 

 follow the storm only by listening to the uninterrupted roll of the 

 thunder. The downpour becomes a cloud-burst; from the hills the 

 water rushes down everywhere in streams; in the hollows it forms 

 lakes; in the valleys there are rivers in flood. For hours the down- 

 pour continues, but with the coming of the rain the tempest abates, 

 and a fresh cooling breeze refreshes man and beast and plant. 

 Gradually the flashes become fewer and the peals of thunder less 

 violent, the rain-spout becomes a shower, and this ends in a gentle 

 drizzle; the sky clears, the clouds scatter, and the sun breaks forth 

 in splendour. Mirthfully the brown children, naked as they were 

 born, run out from the houses and huts to bathe in the pools which 

 the spring rain has filled; and not less gladly do the reptiles, 

 amphibians, and fishes rise from their muddy beds. Even the first 

 night after the rain one hears everywhere the clear, loud voice of a 

 little frog, of whom one saw nothing before, for he, like some of the 

 crocodiles, many turtles, and all the fishes, had sought winter- 

 quarters deep in the mud bottom of the periodically dried-up lakes, 

 and had just been awakened by the first spring rain. 40 



