Chapter XXI: Part 21

+-----+-------+-------+----------------------------------------------+ |Date.|Hour of|Deg. F.| Remarks. | | | Day. | | | +-----+-------+-------+----------------------------------------------+ |1854.| | | | | | | | | | Jan.| | | | | | | | | | 1 | | |Cold. | | | | | | | 2 |sunrise| 62·2 | | | | | | | | |2 p.m. | 88·5 | | | | | | | | 3 |sunrise| 61 |Clear sky. | | | | | | | |1.30 | 87·5 | | | |p.m. | | | | | | | | | 4 |sunrise| 66 |Sky overcast; cleared up towards sunset. | | | | | | | 5 |sunrise| 60 |Clear sky; cold. | | | | | | | |sunset | 77·5 | | | | | | | | 6 | | |Clear sky; cold. | | | | | | | |sunset | 77·5 | | | | | | | | 7 |sunrise| 59·5 | | | | | | | | |2 p.m. | 85 | | | | | | | | |sunset | 87 | | | | | | | | 8 |sunrise| 61·5 |A fine day. Both these days warmer at sunset | | | | |than in the afternoon. | | | | | | | |2 p.m. | 75 | | | | | | | | |sunset | 77·5 | | | | | | | | 9 |2 p.m. | 85 |Sky overcast. | | | | | | | 10 |sunrise| 64 | | | | | | | | 11 |sunrise| 64 | | | | | | | | |2 p.m. | 85 | | | | | | | | |sunset | 80 | | | | | | | | 12 |sunrise| 66 | | | | | | | | 13 |sunrise| 55 |Very cold day. | | | | | | | 14 | | |Not quite so cold. | | | | | | | 15 | | |Sky overcast in the morning; about noon | | | | |clearer, then again overcast; thunder in the | | | | |distance. Towards evening heat lightning; only| | | | |a few drops of rain after midnight. | | | | | | | 16 | | |Cold wind. | | | | | | | 17 | | |No observation. | | | | | | | 18 | | |Tolerably cold. Sky somewhat clearer. | | | | | | | 19 |sunrise| 60 | | | | | | | | |sunset | 76 | | | | | | | | 20 | | |Sky overcast; very cold and cheerless. | | | | | | | |2 p.m. | 66 |2.30 p.m. a few drops of rain. | | | | | | | |sunset | 62 | | | | | | | | |sunrise| 51 | | | | | | | | 21 |2.30 | 77 |Sky clear. | | |p.m. | | | | | | | | | |sunset | 69 | | | | | | | | 22 |sunrise| 48 |Sky clear. (Broke this day in reality my last | | | | |thermometer.) | | | | | | | 23 | | |Clear. | | | | | | | 24 | | |Tolerably clear. | | | | | | | 25 | | |Fine day. Morning delightful. | | | | | | | 26 | | |Morning clear. | | | | | | | 27 | | |Forenoon not quite clear. | | | | | | | 28 | | |No observation. | | | | | | | 29 | | |Cold and windy. | | | | | | | 30 | | |Clear and cold. | | | | | | | 31 | | |Clear. | | | | | | | Feb.| | | | | | | | | | 1 | | |Not quite clear. In this month very few | | | | |particular observations, but in general the | | | | |mornings proved colder than those in January. | | | | | | |March| | |In the first days of March a very heavy gale | | | | |in the forenoon. | | | | | | | 3 | | |In the morning clear, then overcast. | | | | | | | 4 | | |Clear. | | | | | | | 5 | | |Clear morning. | | | | | | | 6 | | |Heavy northerly gale the whole day long, | | | | |carrying much sand. | | | | | | | 7 | | |Clear. | | | | | | | 8 | | |Clear. | | | | | | | 9 | | |Sky not clear. | | | | | | | 10 | | |Overcast; the sun scarcely ever came forth. A | | | | |few drops of rain. | | | | | | | 11 | | |Overcast. | | | | | | | 12 | | |Windy, not clear. Heavy gale during the night.| | | | | | | 13 | | |Cloudy. In the course of the day a very heavy | | | | |gale arose. | | | | | | | 14 | | |Overcast; no wind; evening clear. | | | | | | | 15 | | |Clear. | | | | | | | 16 | | |Clear in the forenoon, then dull. | | | | | | | 17 | | |Overcast. | | | | | | | 18 | | |Clear. | | | | | | | 19 | | |In the afternoon sky dull. | | | | | | | 20 | | |Sky clear in the morning. | | | | | | | 21 | | |Sky overcast with clouds, a dropping continued| | | | |during the whole of the morning. At 8½ in the | | | | |evening moderate rain. A more regular rain at | | | | |11 o’clock, lasting till 1 o’clock. After | | | | |midnight, followed by a heavy tornado. | | | | | | | 22 | | |The dropping continued in the morning. Sky | | | | |thickly overcast, drops of rain falling now | | | | |and then. | | | | | | | 23 | | |A warm sunny day. | | | | | | | 24 | | |Dull sky. | | | | | | | 25 | | |The sky the greater part of the day overcast; | | | | |towards evening a little sunshine. About 11 | | | | |o’clock at night some dropping. | | | | | | | 26 | | |Sky dull; some dropping the whole of the day. | | | | |About 11 o’clock at night a regular rain began| | | | |to fall, lasting till about 2 o’clock in the | | | | |morning. | | | | | | | 27 | | |Dull and cool; dropping continued the whole | | | | |day long, and dark clouds had been collecting | | | | |about noon; a regular rain set in about 2 | | | | |o’clock p.m., lasting till 5 o’clock.[130] | | | | | | | 28 | | |Between 1 and 2 o’clock in the morning again a| | | | |light rain, lasting about an hour. After | | | | |sunrise the sky became clearer, and at 9 | | | | |o’clock a.m. the sun burst forth; heavy gale | | | | |the whole day long. | | | | | | | 29 | | |Day clear, but windy; not too warm. | | | | | | | 30 | | |Sunny, but strong gale blowing. | | | | | | | 31 | | |At times sunny, then dull, rather windy. | | | | | | |April| | | | | | | | | | 1 | | |Dull; a little dropping in the afternoon. | | | | | | | 2 | | |Clearer. About sunset a heavy gale sprang up. | | | | | | | 3 | | |A warm day. | | | | | | | 4 | | |Fine cool morning, with the usual northerly | | | | |gale; in the afternoon quiet. | | | | | | | 5 | | |Warm day. | | | | | | | 6 | | |Morning cool. | | | | | | | 7 | | |Fresh wind. | | | | | | | 8 | | |Very cool night. | | | | | | | 9 | | |Warm day; no wind. About sunset overcast. | | | | | | | 10 | | |Night not so cool. About 1 o’clock p.m. heavy | | | | |gust of wind. | | | | | | | 11 | | |Warm. About 2 o’clock p.m. violent gusts of | | | | |wind. | | | | | | | 12 | | |A warm day. | | | | | | | 13 |No observation.| | | | | | | | 14 | | |About noon a southerly gale. | | | | | | |15-18| | |No observation. | | | | | | | 19 | | |The sun very troublesome. | | | | | | | 21 | | |Sky dull; windy. | | | | | | | 27 | | |Night very warm. Sky in the morning not clear.| | | | | | | 28 | | |Fine morning; day very warm. | | | | | | | 30 | | |Very warm day. At 9.30 p.m. a light and short | | | | |fall of rain, followed by a breeze. | | | | | | | May | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | |The sky in the evening thickly overcast with | | | | |clouds. | | | | | | | 2 | | |Cloudy; the sun burst forth about 3 o’clock | | | | |p.m. All this time along the Niger a heavy dew| | | | |in the evening and during the night. | | | | | | | 3 | | |A clear day. | | | | | | | 4 | | |A clear day. 3 o’clock p.m. thunder in the | | | | |distance, towards S. and S.E. 3.45 a regular | | | | |rain, lasting 10 m. Round about us thunder | | | | |and rain, lasting till evening. At 5 o’clock | | | | |p.m. another light rain and dropping till | | | | |sunset. | | | | | | | 5 | | |Morning tolerably clear. At 3 p.m. clouds | | | | |gathered in the east; thunder in that | | | | |direction. Gradually a storm ascended from the| | | | |south like a battery, breaking forth with a | | | | |tremendous gust of wind. At 7 o’clock p.m. the| | | | |thunder clouds returned from the N., whither | | | | |they had withdrawn, and a most violent shower | | | | |of rain came down, lasting for an hour with | | | | |unabated violence, then more moderate till 9 | | | | |o’clock p.m. At 1 p.m. temperature constantly | | | | |between 104° and 108°. | | | | | | | 6 | | |Sky still overcast, the sun bursting forth | | | | |about 8 o’clock a.m. Evening clear. | | | | | | | 7 | | |The whole day sky overcast, the atmosphere | | | | |about sunset very oppressive. | | | | | | | 8 | | |Sky dull. | | | | | | | 9 | | |Sky still dull; in the afternoon clearer. | | | | | | | 10 | | |Day dull and cloudy, evening clear. | | | | | | | 11 | | |A hot wind from the desert in the afternoon. | | | | | | | 12 | | |Hazy and overcast in the afternoon. | | | | | | | 13 | | | | | | | |Clear. | | 14 | | | | | | | | | | 15 | | |Clear in the morning; hot wind from the desert| | | | |in the afternoon. About 1 p.m. temperature | | | | |between 105° and 108°. | | | | | | | 16 | | |Strong north-easterly wind, called “erífe.” | | | | | | | 22 | | |Very cold morning. | | | | | | | 23 | | |Cold morning. | | | | | | | 24 | | |(Bamba.)—Sky thickly overcast, a heavy rain | | | | |towards the S., beyond the Niger. Gradually a | | | | |heavy gale came up; rainy. Even with us a few | | | | |drops of rain fell. 9½ o’clock a.m. a heavy | | | | |shower, lasting a quarter of an hour. The sun | | | | |broke through the clouds about 3 o’clock p.m. | | | | | | | 25 | | |Sky in the morning tolerably clear, since noon| | | | |overcast with clouds. About 2 p.m. a light | | | | |rain of short duration. About 3 p.m. another | | | | |thunder-storm arose, but passed by without | | | | |rain, only the thunder-claps being heard. 5 | | | | |o’clock another thunder-storm, with a powerful| | | | |sand-storm, but no rain. | | | | | | | 26 | | |Sky overcast. At 2 o’clock p.m. a light | | | | |shower, followed by a second. On the southern | | | | |side of the Niger a great deal more rain fell.| | | | |Later in the afternoon the sky became clearer,| | | | |but the whole of the evening much heat | | | | |lightning, towards N. & N.E. | | | | | | | 27 | | |2½ p.m. a heavy thunder-storm rose from the | | | | |E., but passed by without rain, carrying with | | | | |it an immense quantity of sand. | | | | | | | 28 | | |Warm day; a thunder-storm in Áribínda. | | | | | | | 29 | | |Clear day. | | | | | | | 30 | | |Rainy day; in the earlier part of the day | | | | |twice a little rain. At 3.30 p.m. a very heavy| | | | |gale arose, but bringing us only sand. Rain in| | | | |Áribínda. | | | | | | | June| | | | | | | | | | 1 | | |The air became much cooler. Several | | | | |thunderstorms in the afternoon, the second | | | | |approaching from the N. at 6 o’clock p.m., | | | | |followed by a light fall of rain at 6.15, | | | | |continuing, with a short interruption, till 10| | | | |o’clock at night, and cooling the hot sandy | | | | |soil. | | | | | | | 2 | | |Cool and fresh; fine day. | | | | | | | 3 | | |Fine warm day. | | | | | | | 4 | | |In the morning a thunder-storm towards the W.;| | | | |at 8 o’clock a heavy gale. | | | | | | | 5 | | |A clear day, afterwards windy. At 5 o’clock | | | | |p.m. a thunder-storm arose, but without rain | | | | |near us. | | | | | | | 6 | | |Very warm day. | | | | | | | 7 | | |Exceedingly warm; in the evening heat- | | | | |lightning in every direction. | | | | | | | 8 | | |2.30 after midnight a thunder-storm rose, | | | | |followed by light rain, lasting from 3.30 to | | | | |8.30 a.m. Then followed a heavy gale. | | | | | | | 9 | | | | | | | |Fine. | | 10 | | | | | | | | | | 12 | | |Cloudy in the afternoon; heat lightning in the| | | | |evening. | | | | | | | 13 | | |A thunder-storm gathered at 2 o’clock after | | | | |midnight, accompanied by a heavy gale, but no | | | | |rain. Sky the whole day hazy. | | | | | | | 14 | | | | | | | | | | 15 | | |At 3 o’clock in the morning a thunder-storm | | | | |approached from the N., but only a few drops | | | | |of rain fell. | | | | | | | 16 | | |About 4 o’clock in the morning a thunder-storm| | | | |gathered, without thunder and lightning, but | | | | |considerable rain, lasting till 8.30. | | | | | | | 17 | | |Fine. | | | | | | | 18 | | |About sunset a threatening thunder-storm | | | | |arose, but passed by without any rain. In the | | | | |night, however, tolerable rain without much | | | | |wind. | | | | | | | 19 | | |Fine. | | | | | | | 20 | | |Clear. | | | | | | | 21 | | |About 9 o’clock a.m. the sun broke through the| | | | |cloudy sky. In the evening heat lightning; no | | | | |rain. | | | | | | | 22 | | |A little cloudy; very hot; heat lightning in | | | | |the evening. | | | | | | | 23 | | |Warm. | | | | | | | 24 | | |A little cooler. | | | | | | | 25 | | |Cloudy; several times a few drops of rain, | | | | |with thunder towards the W. 3.30 p.m. a heavy | | | | |thunder-storm approached, passed by towards | | | | |the N., where much rain fell. | | | | | | | 26 | | |About 5 o’clock p.m. a thunder-storm passed | | | | |over our heads without rain, but accompanied | | | | |by a heavy gale of wind. | | | | | | | 27 | | |Clear and fine morning, about noon very warm, | | | | |in the evening heat lightning. About 8 o’clock| | | | |p.m. a thunder-storm without rain; after | | | | |midnight a second, gathering from S.W., with a| | | | |little rain. | | | | | | | 28 | | |Fine day; clouds and heat lightning in the | | | | |evening. | | | | | | | 29 | | |Clear morning; afterwards very warm. About 2 | | | | |p.m. a storm gathered from the E., and brought| | | | |a light rain of short continuance; returned | | | | |afterwards from the W., and approached with a | | | | |heavy rain at 4.30 p.m.; lasting half an hour.| | | | | | | 30 | | |Fine clear morning; no rain. | | | | | | | July| | | | | | | | | | 1 | | |About 8 o’clock a.m. a strong gale. | | | | | | | 2 | | |Clear. | | | | | | | 3 | | |Fine cool morning. | | | | | | | 4 | | |About sunset a thunder-storm approached | | | | |gradually from the E., but without rain. | | | | | | | 5 | | |3 p.m. rain, in the beginning lighter, then | | | | |more considerable, coming from the N. At 5 | | | | |o’clock another heavy fall of rain, lasting | | | | |about 20 minutes. | | | | | | | 6 | | |Clear. | | | | | | | 7 | | |Early in the morning a thunder-storm passed by| | | | |without any rain. | | | | | | | 8 | | |About sunset a thunder-storm from the E., | | | | |accompanied by a light rain, lasting till late| | | | |at night. | | | | | | | 9 | | |Clear. | | | | | | | 10 | | |A fine clear morning. | | | | | | | 11 | | |About 10 o’clock p.m. a thunder-storm, which | | | | |had long been gathering, broke forth with | | | | |heavy rain, which with less vehemence | | | | |continued the whole night long, accompanied by| | | | |a heavy gale. | | | | | | | 12 | | | | | | | | | | 13 | | |About 10 o’clock thick clouds overcast the | | | | |sky, but were scattered by a heavy gale. At | | | | |2.30 in the morning a heavy rain broke forth, | | | | |not accompanied by thunder, lasting about 20 | | | | |m. | | | | | | | 14 | | |The sky thickly overcast in the morning, in | | | | |the afternoon clear. | | | | | | | 15 | | |About 6 o’clock in the morning a heavy | | | | |thunder-storm gathered, breaking forth with a | | | | |heavy rain at 6.30, lasting with equal | | | | |violence till about 8 o’clock, then gentler | | | | |till 10.30. | | | | | | | 16 | | |The sky beautifully clear in the morning, in | | | | |the afternoon occasionally overcast with | | | | |clouds. | | | | | | | 17 | | |Clear. At 10 o’clock in the evening a thunder-| | | | |storm gathered from S.E., but brought us only | | | | |moderate rain. | | | | | | | 18 | | | | | | | |Clear. | | 19 | | | | | | | | | | 20 | | |5 o’clock in the morning a very black battery | | | | |of thunder-clouds approached from the S.E., | | | | |bringing a heavy tornado, but only a few drops| | | | |of rain. | | | | | | | 21 | | |In the night, from 21st to 22nd, a moderate | | | | |rain. | | | | | | | 22 | | |Cool morning, great humidity. | | | | | | | 23 | | |Clear. | | | | | | | 24 | | |In the morning heavy rain-clouds, but no rain.| | | | |In the afternoon a thunder-storm gathered from| | | | |the E., but the clouds were scattered. | | | | | | | 25 | | |Clear. | | | | | | | 26 | | |3.30 p.m. a thunder-storm in the E., beyond | | | | |the river. | | | | | | | 27 | | |Warm day. About 4 o’clock p.m. a heavy | | | | |thunder-storm gathered from W., but was | | | | |scattered; then a second one from the N., with| | | | |violent rain, lasting from 6.30 till 8 | | | | |o’clock. After half an hour’s respite another | | | | |thunder-storm broke forth, with heavy wind and| | | | |rain, the dropping continuing till near | | | | |morning. | | | | | | | 28 | | |The sky overcast, the sun breaking through the| | | | |clouds at 4 o’clock p.m. | | | | | | | 29 | | | | | | | | | | 30 | | |At 9.30 p. m. a heavy thunder-storm arose, | | | | |although it had been clear before, and a | | | | |violent rain followed. | | | | | | | 31 | | |Sky the whole day overcast, cleared up in the | | | | |afternoon. | | | | | | | Aug.| | | | | | | | | | 1 | | |Clear. | | | | | | | 2 | | |Day dark and cloudy, the sun breaking through | | | | |the clouds about noon. Fine evening. | | | | | | | 3 | | |Drops of rain continued to fall the whole | | | | |morning, the sun breaking through the clouds | | | | |at 2.30 p.m. | | | | | | | 4 | | |8 o’clock a.m. the sky thickly overcast, | | | | |rainy. Rain set in at 8.45, continued with | | | | |interruption; at 3.30 p.m. a very heavy | | | | |shower, lasting half an hour with great | | | | |violence, afterwards more gentle. | | | | | | | 5 | | |Day rainy. | | | | | | | 6 | | |4.50 p.m. a light rain. | | | | | | | 7 | | |Lightning early in the morning, followed at | | | | |5.45 by a moderate rain without wind, lasting | | | | |till 7.10; then single drops of rain. The sun | | | | |broke through the clouds at noon; a fine | | | | |afternoon. | | | | | | | 8 | | |A fine day; no rain. | | | | | | | 9 | | |Sky the whole day overcast; after 3 p.m. | | | | |threatening thunder-clouds gathered, | | | | |discharging a violent rain, lasting till 5 | | | | |o’clock; then more moderate, but setting in | | | | |with fresh violence at 6 and lasting till 7 | | | | |o’clock. | | | | | | | 10 | | |Dry. | | | | | | | 11 | | |Clear in the morning, overcast at noon, and | | | | |drops of rain. At 3 o’clock heavy thunder- | | | | |clouds, but without rain. | | | | | | | 12 | | |At 3.5 p.m. a thunder-storm, but only moderate| | | | |rain, lasting half an hour. | | | | | | | 13 | | |Clear. | | | | | | | 14 | | |The whole day sky overcast, but no rain. | | | | | | | 15 | | |A few drops of rain in the morning, during the| | | | |afternoon sunshine. | | | | | | | 16 | | |Sky thickly overcast. The rain commenced at | | | | |6.30 a.m., lasting almost the whole of the | | | | |day, at times light, at others violent. | | | | | | | 17 | | |(Gando.)—In the course of the morning the sun | | | | |broke through the clouds. In the afternoon | | | | |rain with interruption, after sunset a heavy | | | | |rain lasting almost the whole of the night. | | | | | | | 18 | | |The rain began towards morning with increased | | | | |violence; a little rain in the course of the | | | | |following night. | | | | | | | 19 | | |A heavy rain in the morning, lasting half an | | | | |hour, then dropping till 9 a.m.; afterwards | | | | |the sun broke through the clouds. | | | | | | | 20 | | |Tolerably clear in the morning, at times a few| | | | |drops of rain, a thunder-storm in the | | | | |afternoon; regular rain from 4 p.m. till 8 | | | | |p.m. | | | | | | | 21 | | |Tolerably clear; from 11.30 a.m. drops of rain| | | | |till about 2 p.m. Afterwards the sun broke | | | | |through the clouds. The afternoon clear. | | | | | | | 22 | | |2 o’clock a.m. a heavy shower, lasting till | | | | |4.30, then a little rain occasionally. At 3 | | | | |o’clock p.m. a thunder-storm from N.W. with | | | | |rain at intervals, more continuous from 4 | | | | |o’clock p.m. till about sunset. | | | | | | | 23 | | |About noon a thunder-storm in the distance; | | | | |1.50 p.m. a light rain till 3 o’clock; at 4 | | | | |p.m. the sun broke through the clouds. | | | | | | | 24 | | |Sky cloudy. About 9 o’clock p.m. a few drops | | | | |of rain, lightning and thunder. | | | | | | | 25 | | |Overcast. At 7 o’clock the sun broke forth, | | | | |fine and genial. 1 o’clock p.m. a light shower| | | | |of rain; from 2 to 4 o’clock another light | | | | |shower. | | | | | | | 26 | | |Fine day. At sunset a thunder-storm gathered; | | | | |at 8 o’clock p.m. a light rain; then | | | | |repeatedly in the course of the night. | | | | | | | 27 | | |Rain in the morning till 7 o’clock a.m. Just | | | | |after sunset a thunder-storm, with moderate | | | | |rain; then at 9 o’clock a second one | | | | |excessively violent, lasting about an hour and| | | | |a half. | | | | | | | 28 | | |6.45 a.m. a light thunder storm, with moderate| | | | |rain, lasting till 8 o’clock, then the weather| | | | |tolerably clear. At midnight a violent shower.| | | | | | | 29 | | |Day tolerably clear. | | | | | | | 30 | | |2 p.m. heavy rain. | | | | | | |Sept.| | | | | | | | | | 1 | | |In the evening violent thunder-storm, but | | | | |without any rain. | | | | | | | 2 | | |In the night heavy rain, lasting almost till | | | | |morning. | | | | | | | 3 | | |Dry. | | | | | | | 4 | | |At 4.30 p.m. heavy storm, little rain. | | | | | | | 5 | | |Clear. In the afternoon and evening a thunder-| | | | |storm, with much heat-lightning, but only a | | | | |few drops of rain. | | | | | | | 6 | | |At 11 o’clock p.m. a heavy thunder-storm with | | | | |heavy rain, but only of short duration. | | | | | | | 7 | | |Dry. | | | | | | | 8 | | |In the latter part of the night, towards | | | | |morning, heavy rain; then after a little | | | | |interruption another shower till 8.30 a.m. | | | | | | | 9 | | |At sunset a thunder-storm from the S. passed | | | | |by towards the W., bringing us but little | | | | |rain. | | | | | | | 10 | | |Weather clear. At 10 p.m. thunder-storm with | | | | |but little rain. | | | | | | | 11 | | |Cloudy. About 9 o’clock p.m. a heavy shower. | | | | | | | 12 | | |In the evening heat-lightning in the S.W.; no | | | | |rain. | | | | | | | 13 | | |At 7 o’clock p.m. rain of long continuance. | | | | | | | 14 | | |In the evening thunder-storm, but no rain. | | | | | | | 15 | | |No rain. | | | | | | | 16 | | |In the evening heat-lightning; no rain. | | | | | | | 17 | | |Thunder-storm, but no rain, in the evening. | | | | | | | 18 | | |Very warm day; in the evening again dry. | | | | | | | 19 | | |No rain. | | | | | | | 20 | | |Very fine morning. | | | | | | | 21 | | |In the afternoon heavy thunder-clouds passed | | | | |by with a few drops of rain. | | | | | | | 22 | | |About 7 o’clock a.m. a little dropping; | | | | |afterwards the dark clouds were scattered. | | | | |About 9 o’clock p.m. a thunder-storm gathered;| | | | |only a few drops of rain. | | | | | | | 23 | | | | | | | |Dry. | | 24 | | | | | | | | | | 25 | | |Heat-lightning in the evening. | | | | | | | 26 | | |Heat-lightning in the evening. | | | | | | | 27 | | |In the evening cloudy; heat lightning. After 9| | | | |o’clock a thunder-storm gathered with a heavy | | | | |gale, but little rain about 10 o’clock. | | | | | | | 28 | | |Heat-lightning in the evening. | | | | | | | 29 | | |Dry. | | | | | | | Oct.| | | | | | | | | | 1-4 |No observation.|No rain. | | | | | | | 5 | | |At 10 o’clock p.m. a heavy gale, followed by a| | | | |tolerable fall of rain, lasting till 3 | | | | |o’clock. | | | | | | | 6-8 | | |No rain. | | | | | | | 9 | | |(Moríki).—In the night from the 8th to 9th, | | | | |heavy fall of dew, like rain. | | | | | | |10-30| | |No observation. | | | | | | |1855.| | | | | | | | | | Jan.| | | | to |No observation.| | | Ap. | | | | 15 | | | | | | | | |April| | | | | | | | | | 15 |12.30 | 103 |(Kúkawa).—Rainclouds. | | |p.m. | | | | | | | | | | | |Repeated thunder. A few drops of rain. | | | | | | | 17 |2 p.m. | 103 | | | | | | | | 18 | | |Not clear. | | | | | | | 19 |2 p.m. | 107 | | | | | | | |20-24|No observation.| | | | | | | | 25 |2.15 | 108 |Warm day, with southerly wind. | | |p.m. | | | | | | | | | 26 |2 p.m. | 112·5 | | | | | | | | 27 |2 p.m. | 113 | | | | | | | | 28 |No observation.| | | | | | | | 29 |sunrise| 82 | | | | | | | | |2 p.m. | 113 | | | | | | | | 30 |2 p.m. | 112·5 | | | | | | | | May | | | | | | | | | | 1-3 |No observation.| | | | | | | | 4 | | |In the evening heat-lightning towards the S. | | | | |and S.E. | | | | | | | 7 |2 p.m. | 106 | | | | | | | | 10 | | |3.30 p.m. a tempest, with a sand-storm, a few | | | | |drops of rain, more towards the N.E. A heavy | | | | |gale. After sunset a heavy thunder-storm, but | | | | |without rain. | | | | | | | 11 | | |In the night a thunder-storm, with much | | | | |lightning, and a heavy gale. | | | | | | | 15 | | |A hot day. Heat-lightning in the evening. | | | | | | | 16 | | |2.30 p.m. a thunder-storm from N., passing to | | | | |the W. Thunder and lightning, but no rain. | | | | | | | 17 | | |Heat-lightning in the evening. | | | | | | | 18 | | |From 4 o’clock till 7 o’clock a.m. a light | | | | |rain with interruption, accompanied by a | | | | |strong gale. | | | | | | | 19 | | |Early in the morning a light rain. | | | | | | | June| | | | | | | | | | 5 | | |At noon a thunder-storm gathering; 12.30 p.m. | | | | |a light rain; 4 p.m. another light rain. | | | | | | | 6 |2 p.m. | 104 | | | | | | | | 7 |2 p.m. | 109 | | | | | | | | 9 |2.30 | 108 | | | |p.m. | | | | | | | | | 10 |No observation.| | | | | | | | 11 |2.15 | 108 | | | |p.m. | | | | | | | | | 12 |2.30 | 110 | | | |p.m. | | | | | | | | | 13 |1.45 | 107·5 |(Kalála, near Bilma.)—A little after midnight | | |p.m. | |a heavy gale arose; 1.45 p.m. a little rain. | | | | | | | 14 |No observation.| | | | | | | | 15 |2.30 | 110 | | | |p.m. | | | | | | | | | 16 |2 p.m. | 112 | | | | | | | | 17 |sunrise| 73 | | | | | | | | |sunset | 83 | | | | | | | | 18 |sunrise| 69 | | | | | | | | |2 p.m. | 109 | | | | | | | | 19 |sunrise| 76·5 | | | | | | | | 20 |sunrise| 79 | | | | | | | | |2 p.m. | 109 | | | | | | | | 21 |2.30 | 111·5 | | | |p.m. | | | | | | | | | 24 |2.30 | 109 | | | |p.m. | | | | | | | | | 25 |2.30 | 109 | | | |p.m. | | | | | | | | | |sunset | 101·5 | | | | | | | | 26 |sunrise| 86 | | | | | | | | 27 | | |Warm day. | | | | | | | |2.30 | 114 |Heavy gale in the night. | | |p.m. | | | | | | | | | 29 | | |Very heavy sand-storm early in the morning. | | | | | | | |2 p.m. | 109 |A heavy gale. | | | | | | | 30 |sunrise| 81 | | | | | | | | July| | | | | | | | | | 2 |sunrise| 68 | | | | | | | | 5 |sunrise| 68 | | | | | | | | 22 |1 p.m. | 111 | | | | | | | | 24 |2 p.m. | 112 | | | | | | | | 27 |2.30 | 108 | | | |p.m. | | | +-----+-------+-------+----------------------------------------------+

[Footnote 130: All the people assured me that the preceding year the rain-fall about this time of the year had been much more considerable. They generally reckon four rainy days in March and three in April, and call this season the Nisán.]

APPENDIX VIII.

A FEW REMARKS WITH REGARD TO THE MAPS.

BY DR. A. PETERMANN.

It was originally intended to compose a full memoir on the subject of the construction of the maps showing Dr. Barth’s travels and researches; but the preparation of the drawings themselves has, up to the last moment, occupied so much time that, in order not still further to delay the publication of these volumes, an apology only for a memoir can be offered. Besides, all the native information and the itineraries, which form the substance of so considerable a portion of the two general maps, have been given at full length in the Appendices to the five volumes. It was also felt that, better than all the most elaborate disquisitions and discussions that could be advanced in such a memoir, will be the test applied to the maps by the Niger Expeditions, which for a period of five years are to proceed both up the Kwára and the Bénuwé by means of steamboats, commanded by experienced naval officers, who will set at rest the true positions of such of Dr. Barth’s points as they may be able to reach. The first expedition which was sent out to follow up Dr. Barth’s discoveries, namely the expedition up the Bénuwé in 1854, commanded by Dr. Baikie, did not, it is true, reach the point where Dr. Barth crossed that river in 1851[131]; but a second expedition will, no doubt, penetrate further. Meanwhile, the present expedition up the Kwára will, it is hoped, reach Say during the present year, and, by fixing the position of that place accurately, will offer an important point of comparison with the results of Dr. Barth’s labours.

After the foregoing remarks, it must at once be distinctly stated that Dr. Barth himself has made no astronomical observations either of latitude or longitude. The best established of Dr. Vogel’s positions, therefore, were made use of in constructing the maps, and consequently they form the basis of most of the routes connected with Múrzuk, Kúkawa, Zínder, and Yákoba. Beyond these points the routes were almost wholly laid down from dead reckoning, with the exception of those from Tripoli to Múrzuk, _viâ_ Mizda, and from Múrzuk to Ghát and Aïr, where Dr. Overweg’s observations of latitude were made available, as well as the only observation of longitude that could be made out from the fragmentary and torn remains of his papers, namely, that of the island of Belárigo in Lake Tsád.[132] It will be seen, therefore, that by far the greater portion of the countries over which Dr. Barth’s labours extend, was laid down either from dead reckoning or from computations of native routes and native information. Thus the whole route from Zínder to Timbúktu, for example, a distance by Dr. Barth’s travelling lines of upwards of 1200 English miles, had to be laid down solely from dead reckoning taken from a very accurately kept journal; and the magnetic variation had to be guessed at. Yet, despite of these shortcomings, the writer hopes that in the construction of these maps, in several of which he was greatly assisted by the original maps laid down by the traveller himself, he has not departed very widely from the truth; and he looks confidently forward to their being tested by the Niger expeditions.

A great deal has been said of late on astronomical observations in connection with African exploration, and it has—in some instances—been represented as if only those travels and explorations which were based on such observations were valuable, while all others were of no value. Assertions made thus indiscriminately are most objectionable, as a careful noting of the bearings and distances of each day’s journey, such as Dr. Barth has made, is far preferable to many astronomical observations which cannot be implicitly relied on; it is only the accurate astronomical observations which deserve to be regarded as well established points in a traveller’s route. In our own case we could adduce many striking instances of the uncertainty of occasional observations. Thus, although Dr. Vogel was an astronomer by profession, fully competent to make observations with care and accuracy; yet, in the construction of Dr. Barth’s own routes, south, south-east, and east from Kúkawa to Ádamáwa, Músgu, and Bagírmi, we saw good reason to reject all Dr. Vogel’s positions bearing upon these routes, as Ujé, Díkowa, Dilhé, Wáza, Kadé (Ádishén), &c. &c., and to prefer simply Dr. Barth’s itineraries of dead reckoning.

NOTE by Dr. Barth.—In constructing the western sheet of the general maps, no notice has been taken of the fact of Major Laing having entered the desert of Tanezrúfet in 23° 56′ N. (_Quarterly Review_, 1828, vol. xxxviii. p. 101.) But we do not know whether Laing proceeded by way of Inzíze or by some other route. It is, however, not improbable that Aúlef, the starting point of those routes, lies about twenty miles further south.

The identification of Bot-hadíye with Bakel on the Senegal, is not quite certain; but at all events it is a place at no great distance to the N.W. of it.

[Footnote 131: The information Dr. Barth was able to collect with reference to the lower part of the Bénuwé, as far as subsequently surveyed by Dr. Baikie, was rather meagre; yet even with regard to those few data, provisionally as they were laid down from Dr. Barth’s original map in A. Petermann’s “Account of the progress of the Expedition to Central Africa, London, 1854,” Dr. Baikie acknowledges the service that map proved to him, and records his testimony both as to the amount and general correctness of the information it contains. (See Dr. Baikie’s “Narrative of an Exploring Voyage in 1854,” p. 446.)]

[Footnote 132: The cardinal points of the maps where astronomical observations had been made by Dr. Vogel, besides Tripoli, are the following:

Longitude E. Latitude N.

Sókna 15° 48′ 30″ 29° 4′ 4″

Múrzuk 14 10 15 25 55 16

Kúkawa 13 24 0 12 55 14

Yákoba 9 31 45 10 20 10

Zária 7 23 10 11 4 46

Bebéji 8 6 25 11 35 30

Zínder 9 2 45 13 47 6

Besides, Dr. Vogel has made astronomical observations at the following places: Bení Ulíd, Enfád, Bonjem, Godfah, Óm el ʿAbíd, Gurméda (wrong name), Sebhá, Bimbéja, Bahr el dúd, Óm el mé, Lake Mandra, Jerma, Ghodwa, Mʿafún, Mastúta, Gatrón, Tejerri, El Áhmar, Má-faras, Jehaye, Ashenúmma, Shemúttero, Bilma, Zau kurá, Ágadem, Bélkashi farri, Kufle, Kibbu, first outlying fresh-water basin, north-western end of the Tsád, Ngégimi, Bárruwa, Yó, Morá, Ujé (Mábani), Máshena, Múniyó (Búne), Zínder, Gújeba, Gebbeh, Gombe, Dan Hajji, Múri, Tindang, Díkowa, Delhé, Wáza, Ádishén (Kadé, residence of Ádishén), frontier of territory of Ádishén, north end of Túburi Lake, Túburi village, mountain on west side of lake. (See the Journal and the Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society of 1854-1858. But in the Journal, vol. xxv. p. 242., there is a misprint, the latitude of Kúkawa being given as 12° 15′ 14″.)

Mr. Overweg’s latitudes, besides his observation at Belárigo (14° 50′ 0″ long., 13° 26′ 37″ lat.), relate to the following places: Mizda, Taboníeh, El Hasi, Wádí Ajúnjer, Falésselez, Aísala, Tin-téllust, Ámfisás, island of Gúria in the Tsád, and on his route to the Músgu country, Yédi, Marte, Alla, Del-hé, Zógoma, Mása, five other intermediate stations, and three observations in the district of Wúlia. (See Petermann’s account, p. 15.)]

INDEX.

* * * * *

Ábare, tribe of Músgu, numbers of them captured for slaves, iii. 236.

Ábbega, the freed Marghí lad, iv. 10.

ʿAbd-Allah, the learned Tawáti, i. 398.

ʿAbd-Alláhi, son of Fódiye and brother of ʿOthmán, iv. 527. His children, iv. 196, _note_. Notice of his work, 186.

ʿAbd el Káder, sultan of Bagírmi, iii. 442.

ʿAbd el Káder organizes a religious revolution in Fúta, iv. 628.

ʿAbd el Káderi, sultan of Ágades, i. 401. His investiture, 422. His letters, 437. His deposition and his confidence in me, iv. 185.

Abíla, mount of Aír, i. 380.

Abú Bakr el Wakshhi, first acquaintance, i. 489. His kindness to me in Kátsena, ii. 55.

Ábú el Hassan, governor of Támkala, interview with, v. 304. His character and position, 306.

Ábú-Gher, village of Bagírmi, market, iii. 386, 568.

Ádamáwa, country of, a Mohammedan kingdom engrafted upon a mixed stock of pagan tribes, ii. 414, 500. Character of, 503. A country for colonies, ii. 456. Different character of settlements, 510. Itineraries passing through the districts of, 587.

Adansonia digitata, the most common tree through the whole breadth of Central Africa, ii. 157, 362. In Bághena, v. 505. Colossal specimens, ii. 157, 392. Different variety, iv. 71. Peculiar domain, ii. 39. The constant companion of human society, 40, 541. On the Niger, v. 278, 280, 282. Use of the leaves of, for vegetable soup, ii. 15, 314, 388; iv. 35, _passim_. Use of the fruit for imparting an acid taste, ii. 388.

Ádar, governors of, iv. 530. Country of, and towns, i. 556. Limits of, iv. 161.

Ádar, well and hamlet in Aússa, v. 485.

Ádar-andúrren, “the little creek,” usual ferry on the Niger, v. 247.

Ádar-n-háut island and its inhabitants, v. 191.

Áderár, country of the Awelímmid, list of wells and pasture grounds of, v. 207, _note_.

Áderér, district described, and Moorish tribes in, v. 535.

Ádishén, the Músgu prince, conduct of, towards his female slaves, iii. 164. His reception by the vizier, 181.

Áfadé, town and district, iii. 275, 467.

Áfagé, town, iii. 150.

Afalésselez, character of, arrival at the well, i. 260.

African warfare, interesting incident in, v. 189. Cruelty of, iii. 225.

Afúlle district and its inhabitants, v. 520.

Ágades and its inhabitants described, i. 397-457. Its history, 458. Period of foundation, iv. 593. Its ancient gold trade, i. 467. Prices in market, 479. Identity of its language with that of Timbúktu, 418 (compare iv. 603.). Ground plan of, 475. Dungeon, 421. Great mosque and tower, 449. Investiture of the sultan, 422. Audience hall, 400.

Ágata, village and mount, i. 379.

Agérijít, village and well, v. 505.

Ághadír Dóme, village and inhabitants, v. 551.

Agháfi, ancient town of Kánem, iii. 105, 512, _seq._

Ághelé district on the Niger, v. 238.

Aghó, formerly large town of Kánem, iii. 91, 512.

Áhmed Bábá, notice of his work, iv. 200. His character, 407, 600.

Áhmed bel Mejúb, Arab traveller, notice of, ii. 283.

Áhmedu, Séko (Sheikh), ruler of Másina, his hostility towards me, iv. 458, 461, 508; v. _passim_.

Aidó grass, with prickly involucre, i. 534.

ʿAín Zára, described, i. 87. Welcome reception in, on home-journey, v. 451.

Aïr, or Ásben, ethnographical relations of, i. 335. Áír not Ahír, 336, _note_. See Ásben.

Airi, the great salt caravan, its gathering, i. 504, 510. Estimate of its numbers, ii. 40. Went formerly only as far as Kátsena, ii. 65.

Ájirí village, ii. 233.

Ákarámbay, iron gates of, narrow passage in Niger, v. 249.

Ála, Alla, Bórnu town and vicinity, iii. 128.

Alairúk village, iii. 28.

Aláli-Ádia valley of Kánem, iii. 100.

Alamáy, or Allamáy, Bórnu town, ii. 191; v. 380.

Alamáibe, or Allamáibe, village, hospitable treatment at, v. 378.

Aláso or Alássa, town of Bághena and its vicinity, v. 495, 518.

Aláune, Bórnu town, ii. 220; iv. 29.

Aláwo, town of, ii. 371.

ʿAlíyu, sultan of Sókoto, first meeting with, iv. 133. His character, 154. Sets out on an expedition against the Góberawa, 140. His proceedings, 163-165. Returns to Wurnó, 183. Interview with, v. 336. His justice, 340. Farewell interview with, 343.

Alkúttabu, chief of the Awelímmed, iv. 470, _passim_.

Áman Sémmedné valley, sculpture and stone circles at, i. 204.

Ammas, “the islands and swampy grounds in the Niger,” v. 210.

Ánay town, in the valley of Kawár, v. 434.

Angála, _see_ Ngála.

Anikímma, Tebu town, v. 433.