206 GtvyrapJtical Discovery la the African Continent. 



tion of a people, would be impossible within the limits of the 

 present notice, which has already overgrown its proper size. 



VII. From St. Litia to Delagoa Bay is a tract of 10,000 

 square miles, almost destitute of inhabitants, the Zulos having 

 devastated the country in their mad career of bloodshed and 

 rapine. This region for a long distance inland is low and 

 marshy, which character it preserves, it is said, as far as 

 Mosambique. It teems with animal life of all descriptions, 

 among which are also those of the most noxious and dangerous 

 kinds. Lions, Tigers, Alligators, and Snakes of great variety, 

 including the Boa. 



Inward from the coast the country becomes hilly until it 

 reaches the Ingale or snowy range of mountains, whose sum- 

 mit is one vast plateau, destitute of wood, rocky but affording 

 good pasturage ; inhabited by small kraals of Bichuanas and a 

 few scattered families of Bushmen. 



Compared with the divisions already enumerated, water is 

 much scarcer as we proceed towards Delagoa, and the rivers 

 are found at wider intervals, the chief of these are, the Omcoos 

 the Pongola, and the Mapoota. 



The Ojicoos rises at a long distance from the coast, but its 

 entire course has not yet been traced, its estuary is supposed 

 to be the same named in the charts as the Gold Downs' River, 

 situated in lat. 27- Ion. 32. 50. 



The PoxGOLA is a fine stream, and was formerly the seat of a 

 native state of some consideration : it has lately been stated 

 that the Gold Downs' River of the charts, and the Pongola, 

 are identical, but without sufHcient authority, while, from the 

 map sketched by Messrs. Cowie and Green, the Pongola is 

 made to fall into the Mapoota. 



The Mapoota, La Zoota of the natives, is the largest river 

 of the country, its sources are unknown, but supposed to be in 

 the northern side of the Ingale Mountains, somewhere behind 

 Natal ; it has water sufficient for vessels of GO tons burthen, 

 as high as 30 miles from its mouth, and a boat navigation for a 

 long distance beyond ; its width varies from 50 to 600 yards ; 

 its banks are covered with dense forests for 40 miles, when the 

 country taking a rise they begin to disappear ; the scenery, as 

 'lescribed by several visitors, must be very majestic. 



(To be continued.') 



