Chap. VI. 
SALUBKITY OF CLIMATE. 
133 
wlio has visited the region I have above mentioned fails to 
remember with pleasure the wild healthful gipsy life of waggon- 
traveUing. 
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 instruments unfor¬ 
tunately prevented my obtaining accurate scientific data for the 
medical world on this subject; and were it not for the great ex¬ 
pense of such a trip, I should have no hesitation in recommending 
the borders of the Kalahari Desert as admirably suited for aU 
patients having pulmonary complaints. It is the complete antipodes 
to our cold damp Enghsh 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 sometimes rose, previous to a faU of rain, up 
to 96° in the coolest part of our house,—yet the atmosphere never 
has that steamy feelmg nor those debilitatuig effects so weU known 
in India and on the coast of Africa itself. In the evenings the 
air becomes deliciously cool, and a pleasant refreshing night 
follows the hottest day. The greatest heat ever felt is not so 
oppressive as it is when there is much humidity in the air; and 
the great evaporation consequent on a faU of ram makes the 
rainy season the most agreeable for travelling. Nothing can 
exceed the balmy feeling of the evenings and mornings during 
the whole year. You wish for an increase neither of cold nor 
heat; and you can sit out of doors till midnight without ever 
thinking of colds or rheumatism; or you may sleep out at night, 
looking up to the moon till you faU asleep, without a thought 
or sign of moon-bUndness. Indeed during many months there 
is scarcely any dew. 
