SALUBRITY OF CIJMATE. 121 



The whole of the country adjacent to the Desert, from 

 Kununan to Kolobeng, or Litubaruba, and beyond up to 

 the latitude of Lake Ngami, is remarkable for its great 

 salubrity of climate. Not only the natives, but Euro- 

 peans whose constitutions have been impaired by an Indian 

 climate, find the tract of country indicated both healthy 

 and restorative. The health and longevity of the mis- 

 sionaries have always been fair, though mission-work is 

 not very conducive to either elsewhere. Cases have been 

 known in which patients have come from the coast with 

 complaints closely resembling, if they were not actually, 

 those of consumption ; and they have recovered by the 

 influence of the climate alone. It must always be borne 

 in mind that the climate near the coast, from which we 

 received such very favourable reports of the health of the 

 British troops, is actually inferior for persons suffering from 

 pulmonary complaints to that of any part not subjected to 

 the influence of sea-air. I have never seen the beneficial 

 effects of the inland climate on persons of shattered consti- 

 tutions, nor heard their high praises of the benefit they 

 have derived from travelling, without wishing that its 

 bracing effects should become more extensively known in 

 England. No one who has visited the region I have above 

 mentioned fails to remember with pleasure the wild health- 

 ful 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 instru- 

 ments unfortunately prevented my obtaining accurate 

 scientific data for the medical world on this subject ; and 

 were it not for the great expense 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 some, 



