The atmosphere of Angola is so moist, that even Dr Livingstone's native attendants were seriously affected thereby. He himself was obliged to crawl along in misery, suffering from vertigo, and arriving at Loanda a living skeleton. He has recorded twenty-seven cases of fever in his book; but, in answer to a question put, said that he has had double or treble that number of attacks; yet believing that his constitution is now as good as ever.

WINDS.

These much influence the climate. In spring, the north wind prevails during the day; the wind rarely blows from the east. A hot electric current sweeps over the Kalahari desert, from north to south, at the end of winter. In connexion with this wind, our traveller found that the Bechuanas knew of the electric spark ages before it was produced by Dr Franklin. The wind seldom blows from north to south; that from the north is hot, and from the south cold. In Angola the west wind almost invariably brings fever, while that from the east is very healthy; the north wind in Londa has a blighting effect on vegetation; that from the north-east and east brings continuous rain in the south; this is also the effect of that from the north in Londa and Angola.

It is well known that extensive tracts of

DROUGHT. country lying between Cape Colony and the

Zambesi are visited by this terrible scourge; such as the Bechuana country, and Namaqua land. We have already seen that immense territories farther north are rather an unpleasant reverse. The Bakwains and Bushmen suffer sometimes terribly for want of water.

Most of the districts watered by the ZamRAIN. besi are subject to more or less continuous and drenching rain. There is so much in Londa, that our traveller's tent, instruments, and we may say person, were almost constantly wet. The cloudy state of the sky prevented him from taking many observations. The rains are so heavy near Lake Dilolo as to destroy the very foot-paths. There are

dews also, night and morning, such as are not seen in the south. The rains are warm on the Zambesi, farther east. Showers have been seen, and thunder heard, in South Africa, without clouds.

The following extract gives an interesting account of the theory of African rains: "The characteristics of the rainy season in this wonderfully humid region (Londa), may account in some measure for the periodical floods of the Zambesi, and perhaps the Nile. The rains seem to follow the course of the sun, for they fall in October and November, when the sun passes over this zone on his way south. On reaching the tropic of Capricorn in December, it is dry; and December and January are the months in which injurious droughts are most dreaded near that tropic (from Kolobeng to Linyanti). As he returns again to the north, in February, March, and April, we have the great rains of the year; and the plains, which in October and November were well moistened, and imbibed rain like sponges, now become supersaturated, and pour forth those floods of clear water which inundate the banks of the Zambesi. Somewhat the same phenomenon probably causes the periodical inundations of the Nile. The two rivers rise in the same region; but there is a difference in the period of flood, possibly from their being on opposite sides of the equator. The waters of the Nile are said to become turbid in June; and the flood attains its greatest height in August, or the period when we may suppose the supersaturation to occur. The subject is worthy the investigation of those who may examine the region between the equator and 10° south; for the Nile does not shew much increase when the sun is at its furthest point north, or tropic of Cancer, but at the time of its returning to the equator, exactly as in the other case when he is on Capricorn, and the Zambesi is affected. ......The above is from my own observations, together with information derived from the Portuguese in the interior of Angola; and I may add that the result of many years' observation by Messrs Gabriel

and Brand at Loanda, on the west coast, is in accordance therewith. It rains there between the 1st and 30th of November, but January and December are usually both warm and dry. The heavier rains commence about the 1st of February, and last until the 15th of May. Then no rain falls between the 20th of May and the 1st of November. The rain averages from 12 to 15 inches per annum1." Our traveller concludes that far more rain per annum falls in Londa than on the coast.

SEASONS.

66

The winter ends in Londa in August. It is very cold morning and night, and hot during the day. The following statement made by our traveller relative to the varying severity of South African winters may surprise many: All the interior of South Africa has a distinct winter of cold, varying in intensity with the latitudes. In the central parts of the Cape colony, the cold in the winter is often severe, and the ground is covered with snow. At Kuruman snow seldom falls, but the frost is keen. There is frost even as far as the Chobe, and a partial winter in the Barotse valley; but beyond the Orange River we never have cold and damp combined. Indeed a shower of rain seldom or never falls during winter, and hence the healthiness of the Bechuana climate. From the Barotse valley northwards, it is questionable if it ever freezes; but during the prevalence of the south wind, the thermometer sinks as low as 42°, and conveys the impression of bitter cold"."

It need scarcely be said that the summer in many parts is intensely hot, especially in the Bechuana country. In the Makololo and Balonda regions it is close and steamy; but less oppressive on account of clouds. The thunder and lightning are sometimes awful. Meteors and aerolites are occasionally seen. The natives shelter themselves in some parts with parasols, made of black ostrich feathers; this the Matebele do with their shields.

BOTANY.

"Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth and it was so." Gen, i. II.

In connexion with this science we can only mention the new, or greatly-important species of plants brought to light by Dr Livingstone in Africa. For the botanist, and the naturalist in general, there is a rich harvest in the newly-explored regions.

Sugar-cane.

This is indigenous in Africa. It has been raised in the Portuguese colonies for many years for the purpose of yielding sugar. In the interior regions just. opened by our traveller it is growing both wild and under cultivation. The only use at present made of it by the natives of these parts is for chewing. Both the Makololo and Balonda use it largely in this way. The whole district watered by the Zambesi is suited to its growth.

Cotton.

Cotton and sugar are the two mainstays of American slavery, yet both flourish around the native homes of those very slaves transported across the Atlantic to feed that wicked traffic. Cotton not alone grows in the Portuguese possessions on both sides of the continent, but also all along the course of the Zambesi. Two species of it are found on the banks of the Zouga and of Lake Ngami. The Barotse valley, and other immense flats of alluvial soil, are adapted for its cultivation. The cotton-tree is perennial in Angola. The people generally spin cotton-yarn with a spindle and distaff, after the manner of the ancient Egyptians.

Coffee.

This is much prized by the Makololo. Immense tracts of central South-Africa are suited for its culture. It is not indigenous to Africa, but grows on both coasts, having been originally planted by the Jesuit missionaries.

Buáze.

Dr Livingstone believes this to be a fibrous

plant of great value, and that it was before entirely unknown to botanists. It grows about Teté, and in large quantities in the country of the Maravi. He submitted some specimens of it to Messrs Pye, Brothers, of London, who pronounce it to be suitable as a substitute for flax, in comparison with which it is stronger and of finer fibre. There is a drawing of this plant at p. 646, Travels. The natives make a thread of it, which is as strong as catgut. Possibly our manufacturers will find it adapted for sail-cloth, &c.

plants,

This is another new plant, being a species of Congé. aloe of fibrous tissue, found by our traveller in the same districts as the Buáze. It was suggested to him by the Portuguese as being fitted for the manufacture of paper. He has met with several of great value. The Medicinal Nux Vomica, producing strychnia, flourishes abundantly on the Leeambye. The Cinchona bark grows in large quantities on the eastern coast. Senna is there growing in whole forests, and possibly, like that of Egypt. Another new plant, the Kumbanzo, a valuable remedy in cases of fever, is found on the same coast. At page 648, Travels, is a drawing of this latter plant. Also at page 649 there is a long list of useful African medicinal and other plants, worthy of attention from those who are interested in such studies.

Manioc, or cassava, is the staple food of some central African tribes, just as rice is among Asiatics, and wheat among Europeans. Wild indigo abounds over vast tracts of Africa. Potatoes are cultivated both by the Bushmen and by the Maravi. Fruits, flowers, and forest-trees still remain to be clas

sified and described.

These new districts, like all other parts of the creation of God, shew forth His glory, forethought and goodness in providing so bountifully for all his creatures.