A RECONNOITRING EXPEDITION THUNDER-STORM. 141 



them with fresh confidence, and they no longer declined to 

 accompany us. The worst of our Cape servants had been 

 weeded out, and their places filled with useful and compe- 

 tent men. Our stud of draft-oxen, moreover, had been 

 greatly increased, to say nothing of a large supply of live- 

 stock. Matters thus once more looked bright and cheering, 

 and we no longer hesitated to prosecute our journey. Nev- 

 ertheless, before making the final arrangements, it was deem- 

 ed advisable to know something of the country immediately 

 in advance of us, and how far it was practicable for wagons. 

 Galton having just returned from an excursion, it was thought 

 only fair that I should undertake to ascertain this point. 



Accordingly, I left Schmelen's Hope on the 24th of Feb- 

 ruary, on ox-back, accompanied by Timbo, John St. Helena, 

 and John Allen, perhaps the three most trustworthy and use- 

 ful of our servants, as also a few Damaras, who were to serve 

 me as guides and herdsmen. 



On the first night after leaving Sclimelen's Hope we were 

 visited by a terrific thunder-storm, accompanied by a deluge 

 of rain, which continued without intermission till four o'clock 

 the next morning. 



With my legs drawn up under my chin, and the caross 

 well wrapped round my head, I spent this dreadful night 

 seated on a stone, while the men, strange to say, slept sound- 

 ly at my feet in a deluge of water. The next day, however, 

 was bright and warm. The earth steamed with the sweet 

 odors of a tropical herbage, and the landscape looked so beau- 

 tiful and smiling that I felt my heart leap with joy and grat- 

 itude to the Giver of all good. The misery of the night was 

 soon forgotten, and we proceeded cheerfully on our jour- 

 ney. 



As we traveled on, we caught a glimpse of the beautiful 

 cones of Omatako, which rise about two thousand feet above 

 the level of the plain. I scarcely remember having ever been 

 more struck or delighted with any particular feature in a 



