336 TRAVELS IN 
and trees torn up by the roots ; but as the 
place which I occupied was better fecured, I 
beheld with pleafure, though up to the knees 
in water, the cafcades and catarafts that fell 
with a horrid noife from the fummits of the 
mountains, and which, dafhing againft each 
other in their fall, reached the plains in a 
thoufand ftreams^ and covered them with 
vapour and foam. The banks of the Platte 
river, which was only a few paces from 
me, having in a moment dlfappeared, I gave 
the firft body of water time to fubfide ; but 
being under great uneafinefs concerning my 
camp, I took advantage of the earlieft intcr-^ 
val which the rain gave us, and fet out to 
return. Whilft I was confined in this hut, 
I fufFered much from a bag of locufts, which, 
though already dry, emitted a moft foetid 
and difgufting fmelL The rain continued 
with great fury during the whole night, and 
the day following the inundation increafed 
fo much, that thefe Hottentots were not able 
to vifit my camp as they had promifed. 
We now entertained little dread of being 
in want of w^ater; but we made no ufe of that 
of the river, becaufe it was both brackifh 
and muddy : we preferred having recourfe 
to 
