AFRICA. 15 
voice indicating the palpitation of hope, in- 
formed me, that he perceived flafhes of light- 
ning in the horizon towards the weft, and that, 
the clouds appearing to gather over our heads, 
we fliould infallibly have a ftorm. Though 
we had been deceived in the plain by a falfe joy, 
more cruel even than the certainty of our mif- 
fortunes, I could not avoid giving credit in 
fplte of rnyfelf to the report of Kkas ; and, 
half opening the cloak in which I was wrap- 
ped, to confider the appearances of this ap- 
proaching ftorm, I perceived that it was on the 
point of burfting over the mountain, and that 
wc fhould not fail to partake of its benefits. 
It was not long before I heard the found of 
fome large drops of water, the w^elcome har- 
bingers of a copious rain. All my fenfes, in- 
ftantly expanding with fatisfadlion and joy, 
again unclofed themfelves to life. I threw oft" 
my covering, and ftretching myfelf on my back, 
with my mouth wide open caught with de- 
light the drops which happened to fall into it. 
Each Vv^as the moft refrefhing balm to my 
parched tongue and burning palate. I can 
fafely aver, that the pureft pleafure I ever 
tafted was at that delicious moment, purchafed 
by 
