292 ADVENTURES IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



We continued our .march for several days throu-gh a 

 country abounding in different kinds of game, affording 

 good sport; and on the 1st of January, 1849, 1 rode into 

 Bakatla, where I found Mr. Edwards and his family 

 flourishing. The news was, that the Boers had met 

 the governor and the- troops, &c., at a place called 

 Boom Plaats, on the north side of the Orange River, 

 and, after a bloody engagement of three hours, they 

 had been defeated. Mr. Edwards stated that since 

 this engagement thb Boers had been flocking in about 

 Mosega in great numbers, and that they were anxious 

 to get possession of my wagons. He therefore advised 

 me strongly not to proceed by ray old line of march, 

 but to get out of the country with all speed, taking the 

 direct road across the mountain at the back of Bakatla. 

 My prospects of doing this, however, were not height- 

 ened by an attack in the morning of fever, brought on 

 by over-exertion and anxiety of mind. 



On the 3d we marched at dawn, and after proceed- 

 ing for many miles without finding water at the differ- 

 ent spots where v/e were led to expect it, we bad the 

 pleasing prospect before us rif not seeing any un„ij ^^'^ 

 following day, when we might reach the Molopo. The 

 sun's heat was most terrific, and my poor dogs were 

 already on the verge of going mad; a number of my 

 cattle were lame from hoof-sickness, and I myself was 

 laid up with a rattling fever. In this state of things I 

 halted the wagons, and dispatched parties in different 

 directions with spades to seek for water. To my great 

 relief. Jolly rode up, and said that half a mile in ad- 

 vance there were several sheltered holes, containing 

 sufficient rain water for all the cattle ; thither we ac- 

 cordingly moved with all speed. An attack from the 

 B^ers being not at all improbable, I ordered all mj 



