42 THE GREAT THIRST LAND. 



down the cliffs. Here and there, in the distance inland, 

 Kaffir kraals can be detected ; and on one vast grassy 

 plain, sparsely sprinkled with brush, game of some kind 

 I should suppose wildebeest (gnu) were to be seen. 



The first sight of these animals warmed the heart of 

 Morris, and already he saw himself, in thought at least, 

 in full chase. Bat what is that proud, bold promontory 

 almost dead ahead? It is where the signal-station 

 and lighthouse stand, marking the entrance into Port 

 Durban, perhaps the most difficult harbour of all on the 

 east coast, on account of the bar. This shore is terribly 

 deficient of shelter from the prevailing winds, and, 

 although its seaboard is so long, only two safe anchor- 

 ages can be found Saldanha Bay, to the west of the 

 Cape, and Delagoa Bay, in Portuguese territory. 



Before getting to our moorings, for we had to anchor 

 outside, the harbour-master having reported the bar im- 

 practicable, we ran through immense schools of albicore. 

 Soon lines were out and many hooked, but all exertions 

 failed to bring one on board; like their relatives, the 

 mackerel, I believe them more powerful than any other 

 fish of their size. 



More than a day lost, with nothing to do but march 

 the deck and discuss whether the bar is worse or the 

 reverse. Towards sunset there was an improvement in 

 the weather, and to our great relief the tow-boat was 

 seen getting up steam. As it was Sunday, we had 

 afforded no small amount of amusement to numerous 

 loungers on the beach, who seemed to think our plight 

 was a capital joke. But the tug came, bump, bump, 

 bump, and, thank Providence, we are again in deep 

 water. It does not take landsmen, hungering for terra 

 Jirma, long to get on shore, and a drive of three miles 



