52 A STORM OF THUNDER AND RAIN. [1820. 
mained one ox which had sunk so deep that no 
part of him was visible from the side. They 
found it a very difficult business to extricate him, 
for his legs were so benumbed that he could make 
no use of them. By tying several ropes, made 
from buffalo-skins, to his horns, and holding him 
by the tail, they got him turned upon his side, 
after which, with great exertion, they dragged 
him to the edge of the lake, when he instantly 
recovered, and ran to take his place in the yoke. 
During this disagreeable process, loud peals of 
thunder were rolling over our heads, and a heavy 
storm was fast approaching. When we had got 
about two hundred yards from the lake, a deluge 
of rain began to descend, and obliged us to halt 
among some bushes at four p. m., having lost an 
hour and a half in struggling through the mud of 
the river. 
For two hours after halting, there was heard 
the loudest thunder incessantly above and around 
us, attended with vivid lightning, which, though 
a grand, was rather an inconvenient occurrence, 
and disappointed those of our company who were 
most desirous of seeing Lattakoo. But there 
was no alternative ; the rain, without consulting 
our wishes, poured down in torrents, and our 
oxen were fatigued with the successful exertion 
