AFRICAN RAINS. 285 



and latitude — for the former, the distance between Saturn 

 and the Moon, and for the latter a meridian altitude of 

 Canopus. Long. 22 57' E. ; lat. 12 6' 6" S. 



These were the only opportunities I had of ascertaining 

 my whereabouts in this part of I/mda. Again and again 

 did I take out the instruments, and, just as all was right, 

 the stars would be suddenly obscured by clouds. I had 

 never observed so great an amount of cloudiness in any 

 part of the south country ; and as for the rains, I believe 

 that years at Kolobeng would not have made my little 

 tent so rotten and thin as one month had done in Londa. 

 I never observed, in the south, the heavy night and early 

 morning rains we had in this country. They often con- 

 tinued all night, then became heavier about an hour before 

 dawn. Or if fair during the night, as day drew nigh, an 

 extremely heavy, still, pouring rain set in without warning. 

 Five out of every six days we had this pouring rain, at or 

 near break of day, for months together ; and it soon beat 

 my tent so thin, that a mist fell through on my face and 

 made everything damp. The rains were occasionally, 

 but not always, accompanied with very loud thunder. 



February 1st. — This day we had a fine view of two hills 

 called Piri (Peeri), meaning " two," on the side of the 

 river we had left. The country there is named Mok- 

 waukwa. And there Intemese informed us one of Shinte's 

 children was born, when he was in his progress southwards 

 from the country of Matiamvo. This part of the country 

 would thus seem not to have been inhabited by the people 

 of Shinte, at any very remote period. He told me himself 

 that he had come into his present country by command 

 of Matiamvo. 



Here we were surprised to hear English cotton cloth 

 much more eagerly inquired after than beads and orna- 

 ments. They are more in need of clothing than the 

 Bechuana tribes living adjacent to the Kalahari Desert, 

 who have plenty of skms for the purpose. Animals of all 

 kinds are rare here, and a very small piece of calico is of 

 great value. 



In the midst of the heavy rain, which continued all the 

 morning, Intemese sent to say he was laid up with pains 

 in the stomach, and must not be disturbed ; but when it 

 cleared up, about eleven, I saw our friend walking off to 

 the village, and talking with a very loud voice. On 

 reproaching him for telling an untruth, he turned it off 



