Erpedition into Central Africa. 353 



is highly probable he should have deciiied to adopt his present intended route, 

 inasmuch as it is extremely desirable that the district between the two prin- 

 cipal branches of the Orange River should be investigated, not only from its 

 contiguity to the colony, but from the promise it holds out of very consider- 

 able and interesting additions to our scientific knowledge. 



" The party, therefore, thirty in number, were to cross the Caledon River 

 on the day subsequent to the date of the despatches, for the purpose of trac- 

 ing up, in the first place, the country situated between the Caledon and 

 Stockenstrom Rivers to their respective sources, thence to explore the origin 

 of the Mapoota River, which it is believed takes its rise eastwardly of the 

 same highlands, and falls into De La Goa Bay ; and having completed that 

 survey, to stretch across the country westward to the Kj'-Gariep or Yellow 

 (Orange) River, following it down to its confluence with the Hart or Mala- 

 lareen, somewhere about Lat. 28° 10', Long. 24° 35', and where they would 

 arrive and communicate with the colony via Philipolis, in the month of Decem- 

 ber. At this point it was intended to ascertain from the Rev. Mr MofFatt, 

 the intelligent missionarj' at Lattakoo, the state of the country northward, 

 and the prospect of the expedition ; to bring together the stores laid up in 

 reserve at Philipolis, and there finally to arrange the route of the party for 

 its northerly destination, which it was expected would then be open in con- 

 sequence of the periodical fall of rains, which would render the country tra- 

 versable by oxen. 



" In the prosecution of the preparatory excursion eastward, Dr Smith an- 

 ticipated much interest and gratification. By native testimony he was assu- 

 red that the wide Caledon issued at once a perfect river, from an enormous 

 spring, on the side of a high mountain, where it was nearly as large as at the 

 place where he was then encamped ; the probability of which singular cir- 

 cumstance may be credited from the fact, that the river at New Lattakoo, 

 the Kuruman, gushes in the like manner from its rocky fount, a nobie stream, 

 and is at no part of its subsequent course of greater size. His route lay at 

 first to Massus, King of the Basuta tribe of Bechuanas ; ihence to the once for- 

 midable but now subdued Mantatees ; and after that to the kraal of a large but 

 little known tribe, where twenty-five chiefs were reported to reside. He was 

 in the immediate vicinity of the Agate Hills, which supply the Orange River 

 with those well known and beautiful gems, and he had reason to believe that 

 he would be able to investigate the porphyritic formations at its sources, of 

 which so many and splendid specimens strew the course of that stream. There 

 was also considerable prospect of a large suj)ply of ivory obtainable in this 

 route, as a return for the trading part of this expedition. 



" The following memoranda of the acquirements of the expedition are at- 

 tached to the despatch : — 



" About 350 specimens of birds, quadrupeds, &c. have been preserved. 



" Fifty drawings have been completed. 



" The history of three Bechuana tribes, viz. Batlapee, Barralontj, and Ba- 

 clarou have been minutely investigated. 



" A map of the route from Piiiliiiolis to the Caledon River has been con- 

 structed. 



