With
This View I Put The Bridle On My Horse, And Driving Him Before Me,
Went Slowly Along For About
An hour, when I perceived some lightning
from the north-east - a most delightful sight, for it promised rain.
The
Darkness and lightning increased very rapidly, and in less than
an hour I heard the wind roaring among the bushes. I had already
opened my mouth to receive the refreshing drops which I expected,
but I was instantly covered with a cloud of sand, driven with such
force by the wind as to give a very disagreeable sensation to my
face and arms, and I was obliged to mount my horse and stop under a
bush to prevent being suffocated. The sand continued to fly in
amazing quantities for nearly an hour, after which I again set
forward, and travelled with difficulty until ten o'clock. About
this time I was agreeably surprised by some very vivid flashes of
lightning, followed by a few heavy drops of rain. In a little time
the sand ceased to fly, and I alighted and spread out all my clean
clothes to collect the rain, which at length I saw would certainly
fall. For more than an hour it rained plentifully, and I quenched
my thirst by wringing and sucking my clothes.
There being no moon, it was remarkably dark, so that I was obliged
to lead my horse, and direct my way by the compass, which the
lightning enabled me to observe. In this manner I travelled with
tolerable expedition until past midnight, when the lightning
becoming more distant, I was under the necessity of groping along,
to the no small danger of my hands and eyes.
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