Chap. VI. SALUBEITY OF CLIMATE. 133 



who has visited the region I have above mentioned fails to 

 remember with pleasure the wild healthful gipsy life of waggon- 

 travelling. 



A considerable proportion of animal diet seems requisite here. 

 Independent of the want of salt, we required meat in as large 

 quantity daily as we do in England, and no bad effects, in the 

 way of biliousness, followed the free use of flesh, as in other hot 

 climates. A vegetable diet causes acidity and heartburn. 



Mr. Oswell thought this climate much superior to that of Peru, 

 as far as pleasure is concerned ; the want of instruments unfor- 

 tunately prevented my obtaining accurate scientific data for the 

 medical world on this subject ; and were it not for the great ex- 

 pense of such a trip, I should have no hesitation in recommending 

 the borders of the Kalahari Desert as admirably suited for all 

 patients having pulmonary complaints. It is the complete antipodes 

 to our cold damp English climate. The winter is perfectly dry ; 

 and as not a drop of rain falls during that period, namely, from the 

 beginning of May to the end of August, damp and cold are never 

 combined. However hot the day may have been at Kolobeng, — 

 and the thermometer sometimes rose, previous to a fall of rain, up 

 to 96° in the coolest part of our house, — yet the atmosphere never 

 has that steamy feeling nor those debilitating effects so well known 

 in India and on the coast of Africa itself. In the evenings the 

 air becomes deliciously cool, and a pleasant refreshing night 

 follows the hottest day. The greatest heat ever felt is not so 

 oppressive as it is when there is much humidity in the air ; and 

 the great evaporation consequent on a fall of rain makes the 

 rainy season the most agreeable for travelling. Nothing can 

 exceed the balmy feeling of the evenings and mornings during 

 the whole year. You wish for an increase neither of cold nor 

 heat; and you can sit out of doors till midnight without ever 

 thinking of colds or rheumatism ; or you may sleep out at night, 

 looking up to the moon till you fall asleep, without a thought 

 or sign of moon-blindness. Indeed during many months there 

 is scarcely any dew. 



