52 THUNDER-STORM. 
the lurid clouds darkened above them, while the 
earth shared the gloom of the heavens ; and when, 
after the breathless hush, the lightning’s flash 
burst with its dread blazing light, and the thunder 
echoed through all the hills, imagine these savages, 
their umber faces lighted up to more fiend-like 
expression in the blaze, threatening the storm with 
their furious gestures, and with impotent menacings 
breathing their wild curses against the thunder !” 
On taking leave of these Bushmen, I found that 
the Griquas had cut down trees and made a raft, on 
which I was to re-cross the river. By these means, 
together with the assistance of some excellent swim- 
mers whom Mr. Wright had kindly brought for the 
purpose of rendering their assistance, I safely re- 
gained the opposite bank. Having remunerated the 
Bushmen for their trouble and fidelity with seve- 
ral little articles calculated for their use, among 
which tobacco seemed to be the most highly prized, 
and having also purchased from them several bags 
of honey, which they had used much exertion to 
collect, I set out with Jacobs the following afternoon 
on our return to the colony. 
We had not advanced far before we were over- 
taken by a tremendous thunder-storm, the rain 
coming down with such violence that the oxen were 
unable to proceed till it had subsided; and the 
parched and thirsty land becoming literally in a 
short space of time a standing pool. We made the 
