A Similar Effect Occurs
Whatever Be The Obstacle They Find In Their Way.
Now this is what
had gradually taken place before 1856.
By some cause or other connected
with the currents of the atmosphere, the warm current from the west
had annually ascended northward, so that, instead of passing through France,
it came from the Baltic and the north of Germany, thus momentarily
disturbing the ordinary law of the temperatures of Europe.
But in 1856 a sudden change occurred. The western current again passed,
as before, through the centre of France. It met with an obstacle in the air
which had not yet found its usual outlet toward the west and south.
Hence a stoppage, a rising, a consequent dilation and fall of temperature,
extraordinary rains and inundations. But, now that the natural
state of things is restored, nothing appears to prognosticate
the return of similar disasters. Were the western current
found annually to move further north, we might again experience
meteorological effects similar to those of 1856. Hence the regular seasons
may be considered re-established in France for several years to come.
The important meteorological communications which the Imperial Observatory
is daily establishing with the other countries of Europe,
and the introduction of apparatus for measuring the velocity
of the aerial currents and prevailing winds, will soon afford prognostics
sufficiently certain to enable an enlightened government to provide in time
against future evils."
-
After crossing the Northern Lotembwa we met a party of the people of Kangenke,
who had treated us kindly on our way to the north, and sent him
a robe of striped calico, with an explanation of the reason
for not returning through his village. We then went on to the Lake Dilolo.
It is a fine sheet of water, six or eight miles long, and one or two broad,
and somewhat of a triangular shape. A branch proceeds from one of the angles,
and flows into the Southern Lotembwa. Though laboring under fever,
the sight of the blue waters, and the waves lashing the shore,
had a most soothing influence on the mind, after so much of lifeless, flat,
and gloomy forest. The heart yearned for the vivid impressions which
are always created by the sight of the broad expanse of the grand old ocean.
That has life in it; but the flat uniformities over which we had roamed
made me feel as if buried alive. We found Moene Dilolo (Lord of the Lake)
a fat, jolly fellow, who lamented that when they had no strangers they had
plenty of beer, and always none when they came. He gave us a handsome present
of meal and putrid buffalo's flesh. Meat can not be too far gone for them,
as it is used only in small quantities, as a sauce to their tasteless manioc.
They were at this time hunting antelopes, in order to send the skins
as a tribute to Matiamvo. Great quantities of fish are caught in the lake;
and numbers of young water-fowl are now found in the nests among the reeds.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 383 of 572
Words from 204669 to 205180
of 306638
