INTERIOR OF SOUTHERN AFRICA. 329 
any deep running large river, there were fresh tracks of numerous otters 
impressed on its sandy banks, 
We forded the Falsrivier only a few hundred yards’ distance from 
our last station, the drift being very rocky and bad, although consi- 
derably wider than the Bloemspruit; and the waggons were put to 
trial of their strength on that difficult pass. Having crossed both 
rivers safely, we steered towards an elevated grassy plain, of a uni- 
form aspect, like others which we had passed before; its loneness being 
broken only by the multitudes of game, as on the plains between the 
Sand River and the Bloemspruit. Although it is dangerous in these 
quarters to travel during dark, on account of the lions, which are nu- 
merous everywhere where there is plenty of game, we were obliged to 
do so, as we wished to halt during the night near some water, Listen- 
ing, as we went on, to the croaking noise of frogs, as an indication 
of fresh water, for which purpose they are very useful to travellers 
in these strange regions, by telling with their voices during the night 
where to find that liquid they long for, we had the satisfaction of be- 
ing conducted by their far-sounding yells to some pools of fresh water. 
During the time that we unyoked our teams we were welcomed by 
a pair of young dogs: our hope was that they belonged to some- 
body not far from us, but the question was shortly resolved, when 
we found that their owner, who had spanned out at the same spot 
the same day, or the day before, had left the poor animals behind 
when he started, and mercilessly given them over to their fate. It 
was fortunate for them that we arrived, as there would be very 
little chance for them to escape destruction during the night, by 
the teeth of the spotted hyenas, who were very numerous about 
here, and are very fond of the flesh of the canine race. It is 
known to most of the Cape colonists, in order to be sure of killing 
hyenas, that they sacrifice a dog as a bait, by fixing him on a spring- 
gun; a mode by which the farmers not seldom destroy the enemy 
of their flock. F 
We took the two little orphans with us the next morning when we 
started, and reared them up; they became very useful companions 
afterwards, being watchful sentries during the night, and amply repaid 
the pains we took to carry them with us during the first few weeks. 
The route we travelled led us over a low tract of ground, evidently 
liable to be inundated to some extent during the rainy season, being 
VOL. VII. 2v 
