THUNDER-STORM. 313 



which spread a broad gleam over all surrounding 

 objects, and seemed to increase the suffocating heat 

 of the atmosphere. At daybreak we regained our 

 path, and proceeded on our journey until we reached 

 a plain of some extent, where the country was 

 more open, and less surrounded by mountains than 

 that through which we had lately passed. The 

 whole of the way, in fact, from Van Staden's River 

 to this spot, had been one continuation of hills and 

 valleys. No sooner had we gained the summit of 

 one mountain, than we found another extending be- 

 yond it, the effects of traversing which were most 

 severely felt by our wearied oxen. Towards the 

 afternoon we reached Zitzikamma, where we ex- 

 perienced a severe storm, the thermometer falling 

 suddenly from 92° to 50° Fahrenheit. This storm 

 continued at intervals, accompanied with thunder 

 and lightning, and heavy rains, for three days, 

 during which time we visited the surrounding neigh- 

 bourhood whenever its temporary cessation would 

 permit. 



The horse-sickness prevails at certain seasons to a 

 very great extent throughout the whole of this dis- 

 trict. Seventy of these useful creatures had died the 

 year before on the farm of one individual, and hitherto 

 no effectual remedy for the disease had been dis- 

 covered. Though a mountainous country, the hysena 

 and those wild animals, so common in other parts, were 

 seldom seen here ; so that the cattle were allowed to 

 remain on the hills during the night ; — a very un- 



