HAMHAMOU. 
411 
great violence, accompanied by loud thunder and vivid lightning, 
We all huddled together in the tent for shelter, but could not boast 
much of the protection which it afforded. To add to our trouble, 
it had no sooner grown dark, (the storm being now at its height), 
than an alarm was given by the Ascari, who were on the outside, 
that the natives were coming upon us. We instantly seized such 
fire-arms as were at hand, and rushed out to receive the enemy, into 
so drenching a rain as would presently have rendered our fire-arms 
entirely useless. Fortunately, however, it proved to be a false 
alarm, excited, I have no doubt, by our Ascari, who, if we had 
not shewn ourselves ready to repel aggression, would in all proba- 
bility have taken the opportunity of at least plundering us. 
About an hour after this disturbance, we heard the torrent 
come rushing down, while the thunder still continued roaring in 
tremendous peals among the mountains. The air was now become 
so cold as to render both a cloth coat and camoline * very accept- 
able, although the thermometer, when we first arrived at this 
station, was as high as eighty-four degrees. 
" The storm continued for four hours, during which some of our 
party, exhausted by fatigue, fell asleep, and the rest of us soon 
after, notwithstanding our uncomfortable situation, followed their 
example. 
" July 23. — It was curious to observe, in the morning, how 
completely our tent was filled, there being not only ourselves and 
servants, but the Ascari, camel-drivers, and three asses, that had 
crept in during the night for shelter. 
" The hills that here seem to close, run nearly in a south direc- 
tion ; they are composed of large strata of burnt brown stone, with 
* An Arab cloak. 
