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On a bad day in the interior of Solomon’s large volcanic islands, the tumbling tremor of rain drops often yield more than a warning of brazing oneself to lower temperatures. What some would call a “tropical non-solid snow” is thick enough to hide anyone a few meters away from you so much so that local villagers sometimes don't like it because of its massive coverage.

For side-sea dwellers a little bit of acclimation is needed for it is merciless when it blows its cool breezes on your body.

Different areas in the Solomons have their way of explaining many of these day to day phenomena some which do clash, on many occasions, with science.

An area in the jungles of central Malaita has an unusual myth behind the white fog. And I got to know the tale when I went for a holiday in Okwala, a jungle village up in Central Kwara’ae, in 2008.

It was more like a joke but from the way an old woman relayed it,  a whole lot of serious looks were tied to it and not even a laugh was seen which then drove me to believe that this is an old tale that our ancestor used to believe.

“This was brought in from another place by thieves,” said the woman, when I complained about what a mess it had turned the whole village into.

“Why?” I inquired curiously not believing that such were the words from someone who is alive in the age which the old is ghastly giving into the new-which I thought should be her way of thinking.

“Well, thieves back in the days must learn to avoid being seen. To be caught at the spot means death and the law of our land was very clear about that-thieves must be punished and that can necessarily mean death.

“So fog was bought from another place to help keep the thieves inconspicuous during their duties,” she ended.

I didn’t want to believe her but acknowledged her warm tech of tale telling for it was like another log in the fire as we tried to seek comfort from the lighted flames to keep ourselves warm from the cold atmosphere left by the fog outside that day.