74 APPENDIX. [sect. 



sally asserted by the Portuguese, who are intimately acquainted 

 with their language and modes of thought. It may have been 

 the sly invention of some rogue among them, who wished to 

 baulk the chiefs of their perquisites, for in more remote times 

 these pieces were all claimed by them." 



Silver is said formerly to have been found on the Zambesi, 

 but not so now. Copper is unknown. Malachite is worked 

 by the people of Casembe. 



Meteorology. 



" While the earth remaineth, seed time and harvest, and cold and 

 heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease." — 

 Gen. viii. 22. 



Most persons have accurate general ideas about African 

 seasons and atmospheric phenomena, while but few know 

 anything of the minuter details of this science when applied to 

 this continent. 



The climate from Cape Colony up to 24° 



d IMATE 



north latitude and as far as 24° east longitude 

 is similar. This is a region which has been losing its water ; 

 and hence its climate accords with this fact. 



When a strong south wind blows in the south, and during 

 winter, farther north, the sky has a murky aspect as though 

 huge forests or prairies were being burnt, and their smoke 

 were ascending high into the air. Some travellers account for 

 this appearance by supposing it to be caused by the actual 

 burning of grass, or by the sand of the Kalahari desert, and 

 others, by upper strata of cold air. 



The climate of the country about the Kalahari desert is 

 favourable to the cure of pulmonary diseases; also that of the 

 ridges is peculiarly fitted for restoring debilitated Europeans 

 suffering from African fever or heat. 



The air of Londa is generally moist, and depressing; hence 

 it is disliked by the Makalolo and Barotse, who sometimes are 

 decimated by fever. 



