A TORNADO. 327 



artillery opened, and vivid flashes of forked light- 

 ning dazzled our eyes with intense brightness, and 

 the rain came down in torrents. Luckily I was 

 sufficiently weather-wise to see the tornado brewing, 

 and we all got on board comfortably before it burst 

 upon us. It passed away as suddenly as it came 

 on, and at 6.30 p.m. the anchor was hove up, and 

 we continued our way. As we went along I 

 noticed that we had a very strong current in our 

 favour, setting to the eastward, for bits of straw 

 and rubbish swept from the deck and thrown over- 

 board seemed to move almost as fast as the 

 steamer. 



The following day we passed Cape Three Points, 

 and several dismantled forts and ruined castles — 

 now overgrown with rank vegetation, and deserted 

 by all save wild beasts — the very sight of which 

 made the heart sad, when the thought came over 

 the mind, of the treasure and still more valuable 

 lives that had been so wasted. 



