CRUISE SOUTH. 



355 



producing frequent agues and fevers, that sleep 

 is heavy, not sound, and that in the morning 

 they awake unrefreshed. Our small ailments 

 increased, and my companion's sight hecame 

 much weaker. After a fine cool breeze, like that 

 of the S. West monsoon, on the night of Eebruary 

 17 burst a furious storm, with large-dropped 

 rains, more violent than during the regular wet 

 season ; the lightning was unusually j)ink (the 

 effect of excessive nitrogen ?), the thunder seemed 

 to roll close upon the roof, and the wind blew in 

 the bamboo lattices of our dwelling-place. The 

 outburst subsided on the morning of the 18th ; 

 the sky, however, remained overcast, and did 

 not allow an observation of the sun. On the 

 next day there were two fierce gales, with raw 

 gusts strong enough to swamp a boat, and when 

 they ended the weather became close and muggy 

 with occasional chilling blasts. Heavy clouds 

 ran before the wind, and steady rain set in from 

 the south : the change of weather seemed to 

 modify the cholera, and the health of the town at 

 once improved. 



On Eebruary 20 we proceeded to inspect the 

 ruins of ancient Kilwa Kisima-ni. A fine crisp 

 breeze carried us out of the fetid harbour, 

 through the floating carcases, and the larger 



