IRREGULARITIES. 



165 



showers strong enough to bind the land, but 

 not so violent as to carry off the manure de- 

 posited by the year's decayed vegetation. After 

 this the water should fall in heavy ropy tor- 

 rents, with occasional breaks of sunshine and 

 fine weather; when this lasts thirty days, and 

 is succeeded by frequent showers, good crops 

 are expected. The downfall is heavier in the 

 interior of the island than about the city, which, 

 situated upon a point, escapes many a drench- 

 ing. It must, however, be borne in mind that 

 the phenomena of the rains, like those of the 

 sea and air, are essentially irregular. In some 

 seasons there will be only half-a-dozen rainy 

 afternoons ; in others as many rainy mornings. 

 There are years of great drought, and there are 

 seasons when the sun does not appear for six 

 weeks in succession. Usually heavy rain is not 

 expected after 11 a.m., and showers are rare 

 after 2 p.m. As I subsequently remarked in the 

 east African interior — the Fluminenses of the 

 Brazil still preserve the tradition — there is a 

 curious regularity and periodicity in the hours of 

 downfall, often extending over many days. This 

 phenomenon may have done much towards creat- 

 ing the fi rain-doctor.' 



Daring the Msika the horizon is obscured, 



