226 EXPEDITION INTO [Chap. XXVI. 



CHAPTER XXVI. 



EXCURSION TO THE EASTWARD OF THE LIMPOPO, 



AND JOURNEY ACROSS THE CASHAN MOUNTAINS 



TO THE NORTHWARD. 



The perils of waggon-travelling were now so ma- 

 terially increased by the rugged character of the 

 country, that in order to follow a retreating herd of 

 elephants, it was found necessary to leave the camp 

 standing — a measure to which we were further 

 driven by a positive refusal on the part of the 

 guides to accompany us to the eastward of the 

 Limpopo ; alleging their apprehension of hostili- 

 ties from Dingaan as a reason for their non-com- 

 pliance in this instance with the king's orders to 

 escort us wherever we pleased. Crossing the river, 

 therefore, we skirted the mountain range on horse- 

 back, arriving, at the close of the second day's 

 hunting, below its highest point ; the sources of 

 the Bekane and Umpeban here marking the site 

 of the last great battle fought between the armies 

 of Moselekatse and Dingaan, in which that of the 

 former was completely routed. These rivers speedily 

 become confluent ; and after describing a nearly 

 semicircular course, join the Limpopo a consider- 

 able distance to the northward of the range, where 

 the country assumes a more rugged character than 



