AWFUL STORM. 89 



witnessed, at sea or on shore, in tjie 

 terrific violence of its nature, and the 

 awful appearance of the elements. Deaf- 

 ening claps of thunder, that seemed to 

 threaten annihilation, instantaneously fol- 

 lowed lightning, that, in its dart-like 

 peculiarity of form, and unearthly variety 

 of colour, together with the blackened in- 

 termission of its awfully vivid flash, seemed 

 to display the vengeance of an offended 

 Deity. The rain fell in such torrents at 

 intervals as are only known within the 

 tropics ; while the violence of the wind 

 agitated the waves to a degree that 

 prevented all management of the ship. 



For several hours we were under bare 

 poles ; not a stitch of canvas was to be 

 seen in any of the fleet ; the hatches 

 were closed, and nothing but a biscuit 

 and a glass of arrack served out to the 

 men during the continuance of the 

 storm, which was of thirty hours' dura- 

 tion. 



