thunder storms. 129 
fell. The thermometer was seldom below 1 04 at noon, and 
ltS ran § e was ver y trifling. The wind shifted several times 
during the twenty-four hours ; but these changes had no 
effect on the thermometer. It was evident, however, as the 
sun set on the evening of the 26 th, that the clouds from 
which thunder had for the last four or five days disturbed 
the silence of nature around us, would not long support 
their own weight. A little before midnight, it commenced 
raining, and both wind and rain continued to increase in 
violence until about seven in the morning of the 27 th ; when 
the weather moderated. 
Two or three blacks had accompanied us from the last 
tribe, and had lain down near the fire. As the storm in- 
creased, however, they got up, and swimming across the 
nver, left us to ourselves. This was a very unusual thing, 
nor can I satisfy myself as to their object, unless it was to 
get into shelter, for these people though they wander naked 
over the country, and are daily in the water, feel the cold 
and rain very acutely. 
Observing the clouds collecting for so many days, I in- 
dulged hopes that we were near high lands, perhaps moun- 
tains ; but from the loftiest spots we could see nothing but 
a level and dark horizon. Anxious to gain as correct a 
knowledge of the country as possible, we had, in the course 
of the day, ascended a sandy ridge that was about a mile 
from the river. The view from the summit of this ridge 
promised to be more extensive than any we had of late been 
enabled to obtain ; and as far as actual observation went, 
VOL. II. „ 
