102 
MUNGO PARK'S 
the most tremendous storm of thunder and lightning I 
ever saw. I was so confident that the tent would be struck 
by the lightning, that I went to some distance to avoid 
tlie explosion of our gunpowder. 
July 17th. — Left Ballandoo at eight o'clock, and reached 
Seransang about noon. All horses loaded ; mine fell down 
under his load, and I was forced to sit by him till an ass 
was sent from the halting place. Seransang is a scattered 
but populc'is town, and the land is cleared round it for a 
great distance. One of our best asses stolen during the 
night. 
July 18th. — Departed from Seransang, having shifted 
the loads so as to have the horses free, in order to prevent 
theft. We had not travelled much above a mile, when 
two suspicious people came up. One of them walked 
slowly in the rear ; and the other passed on, seemingly in 
great haste. I desired Mr. Anderson to watch the one in 
the rear, whilst I rode on at such a distance as just to keep 
sight of the other. The road making a turn, he was con- 
cealed from me by the bushes, and took advantage of this 
opportunity to carry away a great coat from a load which 
was driven by one of the sick men. I fortunately got a 
view of him as he was running off among the bushes, and 
galloping in a direction so as to get before him, quickly 
came so near him that he leaped into some very thick 
