1 84 LODGES IN THE WILDERNESS 



ern trigonometrical beacon. Thence via Hell 

 Gate to Kuboos, where the wagon would have 

 to remain. Any further journeyings would 

 apparently have to be undertaken on foot. 

 Possibly, however, we might be able to obtain 

 pack oxen. 



Judging by the map, the course looked 

 obvious and easy, but we knew that the surface 

 of the coast desert was composed of deep, soft 

 sand, into which the wheels of the heavy wagon 

 would sink deeply, and that through the sandy 

 tract the northern range of mountains sent out 

 spines or dykes of rock, many miles in length. 

 These, we were told, often took the form of 

 abrupt ridges extremely difficult to negotiate 

 with any vehicle, no matter how strongly built. 



The officials of the Cape Copper Company 

 at Anenous (which was the jumping-off place 

 for our hundred-mile sand-swim) knew nothing 

 of the country two miles on either side of the 

 trolley-line. All they were definite about was 

 that no one had ever been known to arrive at 

 Anenous from the northward or northwestward. 



Such Hottentots as we were able to consult 

 all declared that it was only under very ex- 

 ceptional circumstances that water was to be 

 found between the trolley-line and the Orange 

 River. 



