SOUTHERN AFRICA. 231 



security of the cattle. Scarcely was it completed before 

 there set in a drenching' and dismal nig-lit^ which has left 

 behind it on my mind^ an indelible impression. If the 

 jianorama that presented itself on our first arrival, had 

 agTceably recalled to recollection the inconsistent medleys 

 of a dream, the g'loomy terrors of the nig-ht that now suc- 

 ceeded, mig'ht fitl}' be likened to an incubus. " Darkness 

 that could be felt," and torrents of rain, accompanied by 

 vivid flashes of lig'htning", and peals of deafening- thunder, 

 were rendered trebly terrible b}^ the howling' of the wind, 

 the incessant snorting- of hippopotami in the river, and the 

 prowling- of lions around our slender fortification. About 

 midnig-ht the affrig-hted oxen contrived to effect their escape, 

 and after fruitless attempts to recover them, we were left in 

 no very enviable plig'ht, to muse, while we counted the 

 tedious hours until morning-, upon the improbabihty of our 

 ever findino- them ao*ain. 



