lOG EXPEDITION INTO 



and did not leave him time to think of his g'un. After 

 some hourS; ho\A'ever; he mustered courage to proceed with 

 a hirg-e party to recover it. 



Earl}' in the afternoon the Hottentots returned with the 

 oxen^ and we proceeded without loss of time to the east- 

 ward_, following" the course of the mountains through very 

 high grass^ and passing hetween two conical hills of singular 

 appearance^ which stood like sentinels on either hand. After 

 crossing six inconsiderable streams^ Ave with some difficulty 

 gained the vicinity of a remarkably abrupt opening in the 

 range, which through a telescope appeared to afford a prac- 

 ticable road to the northward. Both our waggons stuck 

 fast in the Sant River, and were with difficulty extricated 

 by the united effi)rts of the teams. The heat was intense, 

 not a breath stirred, and heavy black clouds fast collecting 

 bade us prepare for a deluge. We therefore formed the 

 camp in a sheltered and elevated position, under the lee 

 of a high stone enclosure, which only required the entrance 

 to be closed with bushes to make a secure pound for the 

 cattle. Scarcely were these arrangements completed, when 

 a stream of liquid hre ran along the ground, and a deafen- 

 ing thunder-clap exploding close above us, was instantly 

 followed by a torrent of rain, which "came dancing to 

 the earth," not in drops, but in continuous streams, and 

 wdth indescribable violence, during the greater part of the 

 night; the thunder now receding and rumbhng less and 

 less distinctly, but more incessantly among the distant moun- 

 tains—now pealing in echoes over the nearest hills, and 

 now returning to burst Avith redoubled violence above our 

 heads. 



" Far along 

 From peak to peak, the rattling crags among, 

 Leapt the wild thunder, not from one lone cloud, 

 But every mountain had soon found a tongue." 



The horses and oxen were presently standing knee deep 



