170 THE STORM-BERG MOUNTAINS. 



val. Mr. Melvill and his son also took their depar- 

 ture for Phillipolis, leaving us to pursue our solitary 

 course. Quitting Coles-berg, therefore, we pro- 

 ceeded towards Cradock, and soon entered upon an 

 extensive plain, covered with almost every variety 

 of game peculiar to the country. The weather was 

 particularly fine : the sun shone bright and clear, 

 while a cool and refreshing breeze, after the oppres- 

 sive heat to which we had recently been exposed, 

 tended to impart a degree of cheerfulness and buoy- 

 ancy to the spirits, which had been somewhat de- 

 pressed in consequence of separating from our friends 

 in the morning. 



Towards evening, vast masses of murky clouds, 

 which had been collecting during the afternoon from 

 every quarter of the heavens, hung like a pall over 

 the vast range of the Storm-berg mountains, casting 

 a deep gloom upon the sombre ravines in their steep 

 and craggy sides. A vivid purple light fringed the 

 dense vapoury curtain which enveloped the moun- 

 tain's top, over which the angry storm announced 

 its distant approach. Before night had completely 

 set in, we were cheered by the appearance of a farm- 

 house in the distance : towards this we directed our 

 course, in hopes of finding a better shelter from 

 the impending storm than our waggon could aiford ; 

 but disappointment baffled our expectations. The 

 house consisted of only two apartments, one of which 

 was used as a bedchamber for the farmer and his 



