TRACKS OF KHINOCEROS SEEN. 49 



Usab, sloping rapidly toward the bed oi" a periodical river. 

 Here, under the shade of a stunted acacia, Stewardson rec- 

 ommended us to " outspan ;" and, leaving our cook in chai'ge 

 of the cart, we proceeded with the animals at once in search 

 of water. 



For more than two miles we continued to follow the gorge, 

 which, as we approached the river, assumed a more gloomy, 

 though perhaps more striking appearance, being overhung 

 with towering and fantastically-shaped granite rocks. Not- 

 withstanding this, the river — to which the natives give the 

 name of Schwackaup, or Swakop, as Europeans call it — 

 presented a most cheerful and pleasant aspect ; for, though 

 not flowing at the time, its moist bed was luxuriantly over- 

 grown with grass, creepers, and pretty ice -plants. The 

 banks on either side were also more or less lined with gigan- 

 tic reeds, of a most refreshing color ; and above the reeds 

 rose several beautiful trees, such as the acacia, the black 

 ebony, &c. 



Under a projecting rock, a few hundred paces from the 

 spot where we struck upon the river, we discovered a pool of 

 excellent water, where man and beast, in long and copious 

 drafts, soon quenched a burning thirst. This being done, 

 we indulged in a delicious bath, which highly refreshed our 

 fatigued and dusty limbs. 



On a lofty and inaccessible rock overhanging the river-bed 

 I again saw some of those beautiful flowers which in the 

 early morning had caused me so much delight, and, with a 

 well-directed ball, I brought down one almost to my feet. 



In the sand we discovered the broad footprints of a rhinoc- 

 eros. From their freshness it was apparent that the mon- 

 ster had visited the river-bed during the preceding night, but 

 all our endeavors to rouse him proved ineffectual. 



While still talking about the prospect of soon seeing this 

 singular animal in his native haunts, I remembered a story 

 ISIr. Bam had told us of a wonderful escape he once had 



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