334 A JOURNEY IN SOUTHERN AFRICA. 
winter season, become a muddy torrent during the rainy summer 
months, and are often impassable for weeks. The muddy colour of 
its water has given rise to the Dutch appellation of “ Vaal Rivier,” 
meaning “Tallow River.’ Captain Harris calls it * Likwa,’ " which 
is most likely the Matabili name ; the more ancient name seems to be 
_ * Kygariep" of the Koras Hottentots, who claim an older acquaintance 
— with that river than the Matabilis. 
We remained on the left bank for several days, to give our people 
time for washing their clothes, ete., while we entered the plains for 
hunting. We met here for the first time the swift-running boar 
| (Phascocherus Africanus), but were not successful in getting a spe- 
. cimen. We started several lions from their hiding-places; but as we 
. were generally dispersed over the Phin, no one durst singly enter into 
-~ combat with the “king of the plains." 
Many remnants of dwellings on both sides of the river, abandoned 
only a few years since, showed sufficiently the traces of the emigrants, 
who had advanced more northerly towards the interior. 
_As the stream was shallow, we crossed the Vaal River without diffi- 
x eulty; the many sunken rocks in the channel however make it dangerous 
to cross that river during the rainy season, when its waters have lost 
their clearness. Mer. travelling over a rough and hilly path, and 
having that range of mountain for a short distance longer on our right 
hand, like on the opposite side of the Vaal River, we entered again 
a plain, leaving the mountain range, and arrived towards evening 
near the dwelling of Mr. Du .Plois, one of the emigrants, his hearty 
welcome inviting us to remain here for the night. The kind wife of 
the farmer showed us a skin of Manis Temminckii, a kind of Arma- 
* dillo, an animal of the same habit as the Cape Ant-eater (Ozycteropts 
pensis), feeding during night, and which is rather of rare occurrente 
about these regions. They considered this animal a great curiosity, 
and expected to sell it to us for a good price; but it was so badly 
stuffed. and preserved. that it was valueless, even if it were presented 
to us. The kind-hearted. people gave a curious account of it ere we saw 
describing it to be a kind of a snake with scales, but having four 
legs. de Their ignorance may however be excused, as there are no such 
nimal: a the SN No to make them acquainted with them. 
dou de ah PM orh ; 
