264 MR. PLANT’S EXCURSION 
The country falls back gradually to the highlands apparently some 
thirty or forty miles distant; the intervening lands being either level 
or a very gradual slope. There is plenty of wood, but it is not so dense 
as near the Umgoa: the herbage is very rank, and the weather ex- 
tremely hot and moist. Elephants seem in great plenty all over this 
district, as we frequently saw herds of them. There are but few inha- 
bitants of this part, which argues but little for its healthiness, although 
the sea-breezes seem to temper the extreme heat in a very agreeable 
manner. Orchids, as I expected, are on the increase, and I feel ex- 
tremely vexed at having to stop short where the objects of the journey 
seem to be increasing; but as the oxen do not come up, I can only 
suspect they are not improving in condition, and therefore the sooner 
we get them back to cooler latitudes the better. Some very handsome 
shells have rewarded two days’ toil on the sea-coast, and with them 
we start back again tomorrow for the oxen. Somehow it seems im- 
possible to keep a correct reckoning of the time. I have quite lost 
every idea of what day it is; but as the Kaffirs tell me we have been 
out nearly three months this must be about the beginning of Sep- 
tember, and as the rains will shortly be setting in it will be good judg- 
ment to get over some of the larger rivers before they are too much 
swollen. Adieu, then, to the Bay of St. Lucia. 
On our arrival at the place where the oxen were left, I was grieved 
to find one dead and two others more sickly than when we parted; it 
became therefore necessary to abandon the least valuable of our collec- 
tions, and, selecting such as could be procured nearest home, we loaded 
the remaining beasts. Despatching two more homewards with direc- 
tions to look for the wagon, and if they fell in with it to leave the 
luggage and return to a rendezvous appointed; or otherwise, to make 
the best of their way to Natal; while with the remainder I followed the 
route to the hills. This we aecomplished in a fortnight, and the 
relief from the oppressive heat of the coast was most seasonable both to 
men and beasts. I was induced to take this course as I wished if pos- 
sible to catch the spring season on the highlands, and with the sum- 
mer before me I could return gradually towards Natal. But while we 
had been quietly at work in Nature's laboratory, different was the oc- 
eupation of our neighbours. We found on attaining the populated part 
of the country that a sanguinary war was raging between Pandu and 
some of the tribes on his frontier next the Drachenberg; we were un- 
consciously involved in the midst of the contending parties before we 
