them true means of the temperature, and still less of the
rain-fall and humidity.” Of the temperature he states that
“ the mean annual temperature varies ' from 78°. (Chuyu,
Magarini) to 82° (Mombasa). The coolest month (June,
July, or August) has a mean temperature of from 740 to
76°, the hottest (February or March) of from 81'5° to 86°
(at Kismayu). The lowest temperature recorded during 1893
was 63° (Lamu, in June), the highest 940 (Magarini, in
December).! The annual rangé, that is the difference between
the means of the coolest and hottest months, amounts, at
Mombasa, to only 5-8° F., which is the same as at Zanzibar,
whilst at Kismayu it probably exceeds io° F. This rangé,
it neéd hardly be stated, is exceedingly small as compared
with what is experienced in Europe. The daily range, which
at Zanzibar amounts to 7-8°, reaches 7-7° F. at Mombasa and
13° at Magarini. The extreme months at Zanzibar are April
(70 F.) and September (8-9° F.). A t Mombasa they are
November (5-3° F.) and August (9-6° F.) ; at Magarini, June
(9'0°) and December ( i6'2°), the greater range at Magarini
being due, no doubt, to its inland situation on the slope“ of
a hill. Hygienically this small daily range may be looked
upon as a favourable feature of the climate of Eastern
Africa.
“ The relative humidity at Mombasa, Melindi, and Witu
amounts to 81 per cent. A t Lamu it is probably higher.
The atmosphere is driest immediately before or shortly after
the commencement of the heavy rains, say in March, dampest
in the month having the heaviest rain-fall, namely, April
or May.”
For the purpose of comparison with the foregoing figures,
I may add that at Greenwich—>
The mean temperature is, for year ... 49'5° F.
„ Annual range ... ... ... ... 23’9° H
„ Mean daily range ... ... ... io -6°
>, Relative humidity ... ... ... 82V •' ■
„ Annual rain-fall ......................... . 25 inches.
As regards the population of the coast region, the towns
chiefly inhabited by Swahilis, Indians (Parsees, Banians),
are
and Arabs— although under the latter name the Swahili is
generally classed, the admixture of Arab blood being so
stron°\ The immediate coast-lands— that is, for ten miles
inland— are peopled mainly by Swahilis, with some intermixture
of the aboriginal tribes beyond. Of these I shall
speak more fully later on.