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. duration. About 3 P.M. another thunderstorm arose, but passed by without rain, only the thunderclaps being heard. 5 o'clock another thunderstorm, with a powerful sand-storm, but no rain. 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 toward the N. and N.E. 2 P.M. a heavy thunder storm rose from the E., but passed by without rain, carrying with it an immense quantity of sand. Warm day; a thunder-storm in A'ribínda. Clear day. Rainy day; in the earlier part of the day twice a little rain. At 3.30P.M. a very heavy gale arose, but bringing us only sand. Rain in A'ribínda. The air became much cooler. Several thunder-storms 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. Cool and fresh; fine day. Fine warm day. In the morning a thunder-storm to About 9 o'clock A.M. the sun broke through the cloudy sky. In the evening heat-lightning; no rain. A little cloudy; very|| A little cooler. several times a few drops of rain, with thunder toward the W. 3.30 P.M. a heavy thunder-storm approached, passed by toward the N., where much rain fell. About 5 o'clock P.M. a thunder-storm passed over our heads without rain but accompanied by a heavy gale of wind. Clear and fine morning, about noon very warm, in the evening heatlightning. About 8 o'clock P.M. a thunder storm without rain; after midnight a second, gathering from the S.W., with a little rain. Fine day; clouds and heat-lightning in the evening. Clear morning; afterward very warm. About 2 P.M. a storm gathered from the E., and brought a light rain of short continuance; returned afterward from the W., and approached with a heavy rain at 4.30 P.M., lasting half an hour. Fine clear morning; no rain. Fine cool morning. About sunset a thunderstorm proached gradually from the E., but without rain. 3 P.M. rain, in the beginning lighter, then more considerable, coming thered from the S.E., but brought us only moderate rain. Clear. ар 5 o'clock in the morning a very black battery of thunder- clouds proached from the S.E., bringing a heavy tornado, but only a few drops of rain. In the night, from 21st to 22d, a moderate rain. Cool morning, great humidity. Clear. In the morning hea vy rain-clouds, but no rain. In the afternoon a thun der-storm gathered from the E., but the clouds were scattered. Clear. 3.30 P.M. a thunder-storm in the E., beyond the river. Warm day. About 4 o'clock P.M. a heavy thunderstorm gathered from the 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. The sky overcast, the sun breaking through the clouds at 4 o'clock P.M. At 9.30 P.M. a heavy thunder-storm arose, although it had been clear before, and a violent rain followed. Sky the whole day overcast; cleared up in the after METEOROLOGICAL TABLE. 781 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. The rain began toward morning with increased violence; a little rain in the course of the following night. A heavy rain in the morning, lasting half an hour, then dropping till 9 A.M.; afterward the sun broke through the clouds. 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. Tolerably clear; from 11.30 A.M. drops of rain till about 2 P.M. Afterward the sun broke through the clouds. The afternoon clear. 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. |