18 BOTANICAL, INFORMATION. 



crossed the Fat River, where we stopped to get a waggon 

 wheel mended, and to purchase horses from an emigrant 

 farmer, named Hans Petersen, the first person of this class 

 whom we have seen since we left the Caledon River, two 

 months ago. The Fat River abounds with fish. Here we 

 had a troublesome visit from a party of armed Boers, who 

 came to the waggons, styling themselves military men. One, 

 who claimed to be a cornet, insisted on knowing why we 

 carried so much powder, and even wanted to take it from 

 us, on pretence that we meant to sell it to the native tribes. 

 After much blustering and abuse, during which he threatened 

 to throw our waggons and all the goods into the river, the 

 truth appeared ; this cornet only hoped to extract a present 

 from us, and finding it could not be got by rough words, 

 he became very friendly and invited us to visit his house and 

 see his wife. 



An epidemic disease having carried off several horses, 

 and rendered the others weak and useless, Mr. Zeyher 

 left me to look at some, which Hans Petersen had to 

 sell at a considerable distance, the place was called Doom 

 Kop. I remained near the banks of the Fat River till his 

 return, and owing probably to the damp situation and stormy 

 weather, I fell ill ; but recovered gradually, and when Mr. 

 Zeyher came back and reported that there was plenty of grass 

 and many animals at Doorne Kop, which also seems a 

 healthy spot I thought it advisable to remove thither for a 

 few weeks. The journey took a week. On the way, our 

 best horse died suddenly of the prevalent malady; he had 

 been feeding as usual, and was dead in a quarter of an hour. 

 This disease causes great mortality in the neighbourhood, 

 and I shall not replace the animal till it is absolutely neces- 

 sary. Gnus, spring boks, and herds of the animal, called 

 BurchelPs quagga, were seen on the way to Doorne Kop ; 

 also a fine old lion, at whom I longed to have a shot, but 

 he warily kept out of reach. One of our sheep actually lost 

 its tail, which a jackal gnawed off the living animal. The 

 farther we went, the more numerous became the tracks of 

 animals, especially lions, black boks and hyeenas. We halted 



