348 ARRIVAL AT REHOBOTH TANS MOUNTAIN. 



tion, but, of course, made due allowance for the exaggera- 

 tions of an individual belonging to a nation who are sworn 

 enemies to the Boers. The Griquas supposed that Ngami 

 might be reached in nine days from Tunobis (the farthest 

 point to the eastward reached by Mr. Galton about a year 

 and a half ago), and said that two or three fountains existed 

 on the road. 



On the 17th of March I found myself at Rehoboth, hav- 

 ing, in little more than a month, with borrowed oxen, pass- 

 ed over several hundred miles of country, and obtained by 

 barter about three hundred head of cattle. I felt rather 

 proud of the performance. My other wagons, which I had 

 ordered to take the Kuisip route, had not yet arrived. I 

 felt disappointed, and was unable to account for the delay, 

 since want of oxen could not have been the cause, the mis- 

 sionaries having kindly and promptly sent me more than one 

 team. Indeed, Onesimus had started with upward of forty 

 well-trained beasts several weeks previously to my reaching 

 the station, and I began to fear that some evil had befallen 

 them. 



While abiding their forthcoming, I busied myself in map- 

 ping the country and exploring the neighborhood. Close to 

 the station rose some conspicuous masses of granite (on Mr. 

 Galton's map erroneously termed limestone), interspersed 

 with large quantities of glittering quartz. From the high- 

 est peak I obtained a fine and extensive view of the sur- 

 rounding country. The beautiful table-mountain of Tans, 

 visible from many points, stood out in bold relief against the 

 western horizon. In a clear atmosphere it may be distin- 

 guished at an immense distance. Thus it can be discerned 

 at Onanis, from the top of " Wit- water" range, at Rehoboth, 

 and even considerably to the south on the Fish River. 



Sir James Alexander, in his journey to Walfisch Bay from 

 the Orange River, climbed Tans Mountain, and considered 

 its elevation to be about 4000 feet, but he does not say 



