152 AN IMMENSE CLOUD OF SAND. 



winds, and gradually bring about a decrease of 

 temperature." 



The following account of a very extraordinary 

 cloud of sand which appeared near the Orange River 

 was given me by my friend Mr. Melville, from a 

 journal he kept when residing near Phillipolis : it is 

 dated on the 6th of January, 1830. 



" Clouds of dust, resembling a thick fog, are not 

 uncommon in this country ; but I had never wit- 

 nessed any so remarkable as the one I saw to-day. It 

 came on from the southward, and was probably raised 

 by a storm of wind near the Orange River, which lies 

 about sixteen miles in that direction from Phillipolis. 

 Being accustomed to see clouds of dust in that quarter 

 at a distance, this was not particularly noticed ; but 

 ta it drew nearer, its singular and grand appearance 

 sattracted the attention even of the Hottentots. I 

 was about a thousand feet in altitude, and extended 

 nearly four miles in breadth. The dust having a 

 reddish hue, and being brilliantly tinged by the sun, 

 while this glowing colour was strongly contrasted with 

 the gloomy blackness of those parts in shade, I was 

 forcibly reminded of descriptions I had read respect- 

 ing the vast volumes of fire and smoke that proceed 

 from a volcanic eruption. Although it was known 

 to consist only of dust, it rolled on towards us with 

 a terrific grandeur that was calculated to strike the 

 beholder with sensations of awe and wonder. When 

 it first reached us, at about five o'clock in the after- 



