THUNDER AND LIGHTNING IN THE TROPICS. 459 



Then came a few severe shocks against the large 

 stones in the road, and we found ourselves at the bot- 

 tom of the hill. One time the shocks were so severe 

 that my footman, who had a seat behind, and a good 

 place to hold on ^yiih both hands, was missing when 

 I reached the bottom of the hill, and, on looking 

 round, I found the bendy had flung him off some 

 distance upon the rough stones. When we reached 

 Kayu Tanam, thick clouds, that had been gathering on 

 the adjacent lofty peaks, rolled down and poured out 

 a perfect flood of rain. The drops were so large, and 

 fell with such momentum, that it seemed like stand- 

 ing under a heavy shower-bath. The lightning 

 gleamed as it only does in tropical lands, and the 

 thunder roared as if the great Barizan chain on my 

 right was splitting open again, and forming another 

 immense " cleft." I was wondering that my horses 

 were not frightened amid such terrific peals, when 

 suddenly a piercing flash dazzled my eyes, and the 

 same instant came a sharp crash like the sudden 

 breaking of a thousand heavy timbers, and for a 

 moment I was quite bewildered. Both horses reared 

 until they nearly stood on their hind feet, and then 

 plunged forward in a perfect state of fright. The 

 road there chanced to be straight, and I let them go 

 at the tup of their speed for a mile or two, when 

 they again became somewhat manageable, and in this 

 way we flew along high up the side of a great ravine 

 and came into the deep cleft. Ascending the canon, 

 we came to Padang Panjang, and the next day to 

 Fort de Kock. The waterfall opposite where we 

 entered the cleft was considerably swollen by the 



