162 



GREATER RAINS. 



does not stand high, but the frequent flashes of 

 sheet-lightning playing over the northern and 

 western sky show a surcharge of electricity. The 

 public health would suffer severely but for the 

 frequent cooling showers which, especially at the 

 end of the Kaskazi, are succeeded by several 

 days of pleasant weather. This is the agricul- 

 turist's spring. Sesamum, holcus, rice, and other 

 cereals, are sown upon lands previously burned 

 for manure. It is the traveller's opportunity 

 for visiting the interior of the island and the 

 worst parts of the coast, but — c bad is the best.' 



2. The Media (or Masika) Mku, Greater rain 

 or rains. About the end of March the change of 

 monsoon is ushered in by heavy squalls from the 

 S.E. and by tornados blowing off land. Presently 

 the Hippalus breaks, and extends from early 

 May into October. In May native craft make 

 India after a run of 20 to 25 days ; after the end 

 of August they rarely attempt the voyage. This 

 Kausi or Hippalus is usually called S.W. mon- 

 soon, but it has mostly an eastern deflection, 

 possibly modified by the westerly land-breezes. 

 The Arabs divide it, as will be seen, into three 

 portions. Eirst, the Kaus proper, 1 in Kisawa- 



1 I can only suggest that this term is borrowed from the 



zodiacal sign Sagittarius. 



