56 UGANDA AND THE EGYPTIAN SOUDAN.

a dull heavy haze hanging over everything, the thermometer quickly rose to 106-5 Fahr. in the shade. The sky was cloudless, hut I heard in the south a soft sighing sound, which soon increased to a loud rushing storm-wind. The heavens became overcast, great rain-clouds were driven rapidly overhead, and in a few minutes it became nearly dark ; the river was lashed into foam by the wind, torrents of rain descended, and the ground and huts were shaken by peal after peal of thunder, while the vivid lightning played all around. The storm lasted for about two hours, flash following flash almost instantaneously, and the thunder keeping up a continuous roll ; then, with a flash brighter than all, and a crash of thunder such as must be heard to be realised, all was over as if by magic. The sky became rapidly clear, the river calmed down, the only evidence of the late storm being the dripping eaves, the mist which soon began to rise from the sodden ground, and the freshness of the atmosphere, the thermometer having fallen as low as 75 Fahr.

I had a charming view from my hut at Foweira.

In the foreground could be seen the little cove which formed the landing-place, and women engaged in washing clothes by beating them between two stones, or filling the large water-jars which they balance on their heads with infinite ease and grace, while others converted themselves into " whites " for the time being, by a thick layer of soap. Beyond was the