Chap. VII.] SOUTHERN AFRICA. 49 



bestride a pack-bullock, and their complexions to 

 take care of themselves. 



Our march was a very hot one, across measureless 

 plains, vavdted over by a sea of pure and spotless 

 azure, and bounded only by the distant horizon : 

 the fading blue summits of the Kamhanni Moun- 

 tains near the Kuruman, very shghtly breaking the 

 evenness of the line from which we were receding. 

 The soil consisted chiefly of red sand, abounding at 

 intervals with long coarse grass, which being dry, 

 gave to the plains the delusive appearance of ripe 

 corn-fields. Fourteen miles bro-ught us to the 

 Matluarin — a periodical river, with a few detached 

 pools of hardly drinkable water — where bulrushes, 

 and a scanty turf, afforded barely sufficient pasture 

 for the oxen. 



We had hithertofailedinour endeavours to obtain 

 an interpreter to accompany us — the only available 

 person in that capacity being a Bechuana residing 

 at Motito, against whom we had been particularly 

 warned by Captain Sutton as a mischief-maker ; 

 but in defavilt of a better, we had resolved, by the 

 advice of Mr. Moffat, to entertain this man. It 

 unfortunately so happened, however, that he passed 

 through our camp during the night on his way 

 to Litakoo (whither he had been despatched by 

 Mahura, chief of that place), a circumstance which 

 the Hottentots carefully concealed, from motives of 

 their own, until he was far distant. 



The weather was piercingly cold when we resum- 

 ed our journey in the morning. Our people had 



D 



