The Conquest of the Desert 



over heavy sand-dunes and through a veritable 

 jungle of tangled thorn -trees, and then to row 

 it across six subsidiary streams. In the midst 

 of the swiftest current an oar broke, but, 

 fortunately, we had one to spare. It was in an 

 exhausted condition that we gained the main 

 island. Here we were heartened by the arrival 

 of Mr Nel, the farmer at Rooipad, who had 

 kindly left his goats to act as our guide. 



We marched rapidly forward. It was blazing 

 hot. We left the grateful shade of the trees 

 and tramped over the burning granite rocks. 

 We had toiled since sunrise. It was now noon. 

 At last we came in sight of the dark canon. 

 Nel, far in advance, waved his hand. The roar 

 of the fall grew louder and louder, and we pressed 

 eagerly forward. A long range of mountains 

 rose in a great semicircle and faded to the 

 German border ; straight up the river was a 

 forest of sun-splashed green, but all around us 

 was bare and barren rock. At length we gained 

 a ledge, high above the roaring river, and gazed 

 in wonder on the Cataracts of King George. 



Away above was the main stream of the 

 mighty river, which, suddenly dividing, swept 

 into two narrow channels, while the plunging, 

 prisoned waters, fighting to be free, fell headlong 



172 



