352 TERRIBLE THUNDER-STORM. 



the traveler to much hardship and inconvenience, from ex- 

 posure to the inclemency of the weather, and the very small 

 stock of provisions, &c., that can be conveyed. 



Up to this period the men had worked well and willingly ; 

 but the day on which I bade farewell to the hospitable mis- 

 sionary roof (5th of April) Timbo became sulky, and ex- 

 pressed a wish to return to the Cape, from which I had some 

 difficulty in persuading him. It was the first time I had 

 real cause for being dissatisfied with the man, but not the 

 last. 



Four days after this little difficulty was got over, it came 

 on to rain so tremendously that it seemed as if we were 

 going to have another deluge. For three days and as many 

 nights it continued to pour down with scarcely any inter- 

 mission. The scriptural expression, "The windows of heaven 

 were opened," might indeed have been here realized. Dur- 

 ing the last twelve hours the thunder and lightning were 

 truly appalling, and perfectly stunned and blinded us. Peal 

 after peal, flash after flash, followed in rapid succession, re- 

 echoed and reflected from a hundred peaks. Trees were 

 broken short off or torn up by the roots by the violence of 

 the wind. 



"The clouds, 

 From many a horrid rift, abortive jDourd 

 Fierce rain with Hghtning mix'd, water with fire 

 In ruin reconciled ; nor slept the winds 

 Within their stony caves, but rush'd abroad 

 From the four hinges of the world, and fell 

 On the vexed wilderness, whose tallest pines 

 (Though rooted deep as high) and sturdiest oaks 

 Bow'd their stiff necks, loaden with stormy blast 

 Or torn up sheer." 



The men's tent, which was secured with numerous stronir 

 straps to the side of the wagon, was carried bodily away, 

 and men and quadrupeds were literally swimming in the tor- 

 rent, which, rushing down with irresistible fury frfvm tlu^ 



