ii.] METEOROLOGY. 77 



and Brand at Loanda, on the west coast, is in accordance 

 therewith. It rains there between the 1st and 30th of No- 

 vember, but January and December are usually both warm 

 and dry. The heavier rains commence about the 1st of Feb- 

 ruary, and last until the 15th of May. Then no rain falls 

 between the 20th of May and the 1st of November. The rain 

 averages from 12 to 15 inches per annum 1 ." Our traveller 

 concludes that far more rain per annum falls in Londa than on 

 the coast. 



The winter ends in Londa in August. It is 



SEASOXS. , , " 



very cold morning and night, and hot during the 

 day. The following statement made by our traveller relative 

 to the varying severity of South African winters may surprise 

 many: " All the interior of South Africa has a distinct winter 

 of cold, varying in intensity with the latitudes. In the central 

 parts of the Cape colony, the cold in the winter is often severe, 

 and the ground is covered with snow. At Kuruman snow 

 seldom falls, but the frost is keen. There is frost even as far 

 as the Chobe, and a partial winter in the Barotse valley; but 

 beyond the Orange River we never have cold and damp com- 

 bined. Indeed a shower of rain seldom or never falls during 

 winter, and hence the healthiness of the Bechuana climate. 

 From the Barotse valley northwards, it is questionable if it 

 ever freezes; but during the prevalence of the south wind, the 

 thermometer sinks as low as 42°, and conveys the impression 

 of bitter cold 2 ." 



It need scarcely be said that the summer in many parts 

 is intensely hot, especially in the Bechuana country. In the 

 Makololo and Balonda regions it is close and steamy; but less 

 oppressive on account of clouds. The thunder and lightning 

 are sometimes awful. Meteors and aerolites are occasion ally 

 seen. The natives shelter themselves in some parts with pa- 

 rasols, made of black ostrich feathers; this the Matebele do 

 with their shields. 



1 Travels, p. 463. 2 Ibid. p. 463. 



