The Conquest of the Desert 



tell us of the discovery of the Cataracts of King 

 George, 15th August 1824. 



" As soon as we came to a friendly under- 

 standing with these people (Korannas), I made 

 inquiries respecting a great cataract which I had 

 been informed existed in this vicinity. To my 

 high satisfaction I soon ascertained that it was 

 not above seven or eight miles down the river ; 

 and, as midday was scarcely passed, I deter- 

 mined to visit it immediately, and return to the 

 Koranna camp to spend the night. Leaving 

 our weakest horses, therefore, I set out with 

 Witteboy and five of the Korannas, whom I 

 engaged to accompany us on foot. ... As we 

 approached the fall, the sound began to rise 

 upon our ears, like distant thunder. It was still, 

 however, a work of some exertion to reach the 

 spot, from which we were divided by a part of 

 the river, and beyond that by a tract of wild 

 woodland, several miles in extent. The main 

 and middle branch of the Gariep (Orange River), 

 which forms the cataract, traverses a sort of 

 island of large extent, covered with rocks and 

 thickets, and environed on all sides by streams 

 of water. Having crossed the southern branch, 

 which at this season is but an inconsiderable 



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