TEMPERATURE 389 



trpng. I have experienced midday shade tem- 

 peratures of 110° and 112° Fahrenheit on many 

 occasions, whilst often until long after sunset they 

 have not seemed to sensibly decline. This, in the 

 moist, rainy season, when the atmosphere is sur- 

 charged with humidity, is very hard to bear, and 

 doubtless has much to do with the enfeebled con- 

 dition of system which, when, later on, the unhealthy 

 season comes, gives way so easily to the ravages of 

 fever and other diseases. But the winter tem- 

 peratures are delightful, and probably rarely exceed 

 75°, whilst at night they may sink to anything 

 between 50° and 60°. Of course, in the more 

 elevated regions, the temperatures are still lower. 

 On some of the mountains, especially on the high 

 plateau of Morambala, for example, I am assured 

 that during June and July slight frosts are by no 

 means infrequent ; but although hail occasionally 

 comes to alarm the natives during serious atmo- 

 spheric disturbances, snow is wholly unknown, even 

 on the highest peaks. During the winter (May to 

 October) extremely heavy dews fall nightly ; indeed, 

 after walking through high grass for a short distance, 

 one's clothing becomes as completely wetted through 

 as though by a heavy shower of rain, and from this 

 it is easy to catch a chill which may lead to serious 

 complications. 



Although within the area of cyclones, I do not 

 think they often occur. Storms of wind of great 

 violence are, however, not infrequent about the 

 periods of the equinox, and cause a considerable 

 amountof damage, not only to plantations and manu- 

 factures, but also to the river transport. At times 



