Chap. X] SOUTHERN AFRICA. 79 



circular: the muzzle and face black, and the tail 

 bushy like that of a fox. 



During the day we passed another extensive stone 

 town, which once contained its " busy thousands,'' 

 but now presents a heap of ruins. The walls ex- 

 tend more than a mile on each side of the road ; 

 and the plain on which it is constructed, is thickly 

 covered with a species of wild basil, yielding- an 

 aromatic scent when crushed under the foot. We 

 had scarcely passed this, when the lightning began 

 to flash, and tremendous peals of thunder burst over 

 our heads. A black cloud that had suddenly- 

 formed, then emptied its contents upon us ; the rain 

 pouring down like a sluice for five minutes, and 

 obhging us to seek shelter in the waggons. Ceas- 

 ing as abruptly as it commenced, we passed on at 

 once to parched and dusty land, from a tract which 

 had in an instant become covered with pools of 

 water. 



It was nearly dark when we reached the Molopo, 

 a few miles below its source. This river, which 

 forms the western boundary of Moselekatse's terri- 

 tory, exhibits a broad shallow bed, covered with 

 turf, traversed by a deep stream about ten yards 

 wide, completely overgrown with high reeds. The 

 soil on both sides is black, spread with luxuriant 

 grass, and detached clumps of acacia. We crossed, 

 and encamped on the northei-n bank, under a soli- 

 tary tree, around which was a ready-made fence for 

 the cattle. During the night, the obtrusive visit of 

 a hippopotamus — of which amphibious animals 



