16 BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 



varied by a quantity of fish we caught in the Orange River. 

 We crossed the stream on the 22nd. The days were warm 

 and fair, but heavy thunder-storms and rain prevailed at 

 night. We [halted for a day on a high hill called Wolves 

 Kop. A sheep which we had purchased was so carelessly 

 put on the waggon that we lost it, so the people went out to 

 hunt the rhu boks on the hill, and one was caught by a 

 Hottentot. Hyaenas are numerous here. 



On Christmas Day we reached the banks of the River 

 Caledon, and found it impassable. Rain continued and 

 detained us till the 28th of January, though we made many 

 ineffectual attempts to get across. Several other waggons 

 were waiting on both sides. We spent the time, when the 

 weather allowed, in shooting and skinning birds and animals, 

 and collecting insects. The young rhu bok, which had been 

 taken on Wolves Kop, died here. From the time of its 

 capture, the creature had been ill on alternate days. One 

 day it would drink milk and walk about, the next day the 

 poor thing had no use of its limbs and appeared almost life- 

 less. 



We were kept in constant uncertainty as to the period of 

 our detention by the state of the river, which rose and fell 

 accordingly to the weather, varying every few hours. The 

 Boers who collected in great numbers, sent for a boat from 

 Orange River and an active scene commenced, all hands 

 busy in taking waggons to pieces and packing them in the 

 boat. Eleven waggons, including ours, were sent across in 

 three days, the current running so strong that many articles 

 were inevitably lost. Our largest water-cask, though firmly 

 secured, as we thought, was swept away and we never reco- 

 vered it. The last day of January was occupied in putting 

 our waggons together again and reloading them, and we alsc 

 exchanged some of out barter goods for sheep and cows ; the 

 latter being essential to supply with milk the young animal 

 we may catch. We had reason to rejoice at getting over the 

 river when we did, a violent thunder-storm and heavy rail 



