BEAUTIFUL APPEARANCE OF ORANGE RIVER. 121 



can form an ide-a of the pleasure I felt in reaching this 

 oasis of the desert. For many weeks past our lot had 

 been cast in the arid plains of the parched karroo, 

 where there had often been barely sufficient water for 

 our cattle to drink, with cloudless skies and an intense 

 burning sun over our heads, and no tree nor bush of 

 any description whose friendly shade might shelter us 

 from the power of its rays. Here, " o' the sudden," a 

 majestic river rolled before our delighted eyes, whose 

 fertile banks were adorned with groves clad in everlast- 

 ing verdure. At the spot where we crossed, the river 

 reminded me of the appearance exhibited by certain 

 parts of the River Spey in summer during a spate. 

 The breadth of the Orange River, however, is in gen- 

 eral about three hundred yards. The whole of the 

 banks are ornamented with a rich fringe of weeping 

 willows, whose branches dip into the stream, and also 

 of many other trees and bushes, whose blossoms and 

 pleasing foliage yielded the most delicious balmy per- 

 fume. Numerous flocks of the feathered tribe by their 

 beautiful plumage and melodious notes increased the 

 charm of this lovely scene. The entomologist could 

 likewise have found abundance of interesting objects 

 in his department, the ground and trees swarming with 

 curious, if not gaudy insects. My first move after halt- 

 ing was to enjoy a delightful bathe ; after which, hav- 

 ing donned my best apparel, I recrossed the river on 

 horseback to visit the happy couple whose farm I have 

 previously described. 



I found them civil and communicative, and obtained 

 from them a supply of vegetables, which to me were 

 most acceptable, having tasted nothing of that sort for 

 many weeks. They imformed me that about fifteen 

 miles in a northerly direction there was a salt-pan, in 



Vol. I.— F 



