THUNDER STORM. 127 



sweeping on towards us ; whilst the moon, 

 which it had not yet obscured, increased 

 the awfulness of the effect by the contrast 

 afforded by its brilliancy, as did the clear 

 blue sky immediately surrounding. Forked 

 lightning rapidly succeeded, and all prog- 

 nosticated an impending storm. I roused 

 Mr. Bray, and calling up the patron, con- 

 sulted him on what was to be done. He 

 said we should presently have heavy rain, 

 as the wet season was about to commence ; 

 but did not consider that the island would 

 be flooded : at all events, promised to let us 

 know in time. Mr. Bray retired on board 

 the piragua ; I preferred remaining on shore 

 under my toldo. I now made use of my 

 inceradoy a cotton cloth, covered with a com- 

 position of rosin and wax, sewed upon mats. 

 Scarcely had I got this fixed, when the 

 rain descended in torrents, accompanied 

 with the loudest thunder and most vivid 

 lightning I ever witnessed. The water rose 



