213 



ing the exhausted system enervated by heat. The natives also 

 divide the time into four seasons, not accoi'ding to months, but 

 simply as regards the temperature prevailing. The cold period 

 they call lurha and lurhaka \ the next following mhallagata \ the 

 hottest season is termed mhallaka and alholhuka, and the succeed- 

 ing one liirhagata. Rain is the rarest phenomenon, not per- 

 taining to any particular season. The usual signs are illusionary, 

 or frequently it seems as if a downpour was about to take place, 

 but a few drops may only fall, most of the turmoil consisting of 

 wind and dust accompanied with flaming flashes of lightning and 

 crashing thunder-claps. During the 14 years of our residence 

 here, soaking rain, causing the water to flow, and also droughts 

 have occurred in each season, but the summer months are mostly 

 the wet months. There have been also summers without any, 

 not counting passing sliowers, which are of little use in this 

 country ; they neither add to the water supply, nor produce feed, 

 simply cooling the air for a few days. Rains from the S(jutli lower 

 the temperature, being followed by cool south-east winds for 

 some time. These, in winter, are certainly often disagreeable. 

 Only the heavy showers during the warm and hottest seasons 

 produce any growth of grass, especially, if followed by lesser 

 showers at comparatively short intervals. AVithout these latter, 

 the growth of grass remains poor and scanty, and occurrs only in 

 protected localities. Should the rains fall during the months of 

 April, May, June and July, as, for example, in the year 1889, 

 nothing will grow after them, however copious they may have 

 been. Rain scarcely ever occurs but as showers during thunder- 

 storms. 



The duration of the flow of the water in the river-beds depends 

 upon the magnitude and duration, and quick succession of the 

 floods ; a single flooding soon passes ofl', notably in the middle of 

 summer, whilst another soon following, the flow is more continu- 

 ous, especially in winter. The longer the drought lasts, the Salter 

 and more bitter becomes the water in the waterholes of the 

 River Finke. While the water of our wells remained fairly good 

 for many years, it became quite bitter and undrinkable after the 

 winter-floods in 1889. It was also useless for watering the 

 gardens, so that few plants remained alive, and e^'en moderately 

 large almond-trees succumbed. 



Whirlwinds are common. At the change of the wind many, 

 and some even of colossal magnitude, may be seen rising high- 

 aloft, whirling upwards all loose grass and brush together that is 

 encountered in their path. On the other hand, mirage is a rare 

 phenomenon, visible only at a few localities, and not nearly as 

 marked as further south upon the large saltbush plains about 

 Farina, Hergott, &c. 



