The Climate of East London, Cape Colony. 221 



the south and west coasts of South Africa. They generally come 

 with a low barometer, and winds from some inland direction, and 

 are excessively dry. Sparrman, who appears to have been perhaps 

 the first to describe them, relates that " in the months, of May, June, 

 and July (which about the Cape elsewhere are the winter months, 

 and are attended with copious rains) it is here quite dry, though 

 frequently rather cool and bleak. The north-west wind at this time 

 prevails here, as well as at the Cape ; sometimes the wind veers 

 about to the north, and brings with it the warmth of summer — a 

 change which frequently occasions the milch-cows in Houtniquas to 

 grow stiff in the joints. I was assured that it never rained when 

 this north wind prevailed, probably on account of the chain of 

 mountains, which, extending from east to west, proves a barrier to 

 keep the clouds on the other side ; or else by virtue of their attrac- 

 tion detains these condensed vapours on their summits." * 



There was an exceptionally good observer at East London during 

 a few months of 1886. He notes a maximum of 80° for the 24 hours 

 ending 8 a.m., August 26th, and one of 92° in the following 24 hours, 

 and makes the following remarks : — 



(1) " Max. 80° is the actual temperature at the time of observation 

 due to an exceedingly hot wind blowing. At no time during the 

 previous 24 hours would the mercury have reached anything like 

 this figure." 



(2) " The cup of water on the wet-bulb thermometer was filled up 

 at 8 a.m. when the observations were made, but on examination an 

 hour after was found to be half empty, showing how great was the 

 evaporation induced by the above-mentioned hot wind." 



The same observer also remarks on the hot wind of September 11th, 

 in which the temperature reached 98° : " Calm till 9 a.m. Hot 

 wind from N. then set in, lasting all day, similar to that expe- 

 rienced on August 26th. This wind is an awful infliction while it 

 lasts, as it feels red-hot." 



These winds seem to be almost entirely confined to the hours of 

 daylight. In no case do they seem to have very much effect upon 

 the nocturnal temperatures, very seldom raising them more than 10°. 



It has been stated that these hot winds last sometimes for several 

 days ; the " man in the street " affirms roundly that they last for a 

 week. But such is not the case at East London, at any rate, 

 although once or twice it has happened that there have been two 



* A. Sparrman, A Voyage to the Cape of Good Hope, Sec. Ed., 1786, vol. i., 

 p. 281. Sparrman refers here to the country between Cape Town and what is 

 now Port Elizabeth. 



