Chap. XXXII.] SOUTHERN AFRICA. 279 



CHAPTER XXXII. 



EXIT FROM MOSELEKATSE'S DOMINIONS, AND PAS- 

 SAGE ACROSS THE NAMA-HARI. 



The 20th of December, though it placed us 

 beyond the Matabili territories, was a day of exces- 

 sive toil, and but little progress. As soon as it was 

 light enough to see, Andries started on horseback in 

 quest of a ford ; and all but one of the oxen having 

 by the most unlooked-for good fortune, been re- 

 covered, we shortly afterwards moved down the 

 river, the waters of which had risen upwards of a 

 foot during the night. After crossing many perilous 

 ravines, we at length became alarmed at the pro- 

 tracted non-appearance of our scout, and had just 

 resolved to send back in search of him when he re- 

 joined us, triumphantly bearing the teeth of a sea- 

 cow — whilst extracting which for his own private 

 advantage, he had unfortunately suffered his masters 

 to overshoot, by several miles, what he termed an 

 admirable ford. Retracing our steps to this spot, 

 we found the current waist deep, the bank acclivitous, 

 and the bed strewed with large blocks of granite ; 

 but having first taken the precaution of sending a 

 horseman repeatedly across, we determined to at- 

 tempt the passage. After much violent bumping, 

 the leading waggon reached the opposite side with- 



