148 EXPEDITION INTO 



rifle in search of riet-bucks^* of winch some had been seen 

 in the morning*. Here the scenery was beautiful. Three 

 cascades fell brawling* over descents of several feet^ within 

 a quarter of a mile of each other^ flanked by stately timber 

 trees^ of splendid g-rowth^ and g-raceful foliag^e^ which 

 leaning- their venerable forms over the limpid stream^ were 

 reflected on its g'lassy bosom. Hug'e isolated masses of 

 rocks reared their stupendous heads at intervals, as thoug"h 

 cast there by some g-iant hand in sportive derision of the 

 current which foamed and bubbled round them. Upon 

 the tops of these, cormorants were sunning* themselves in 

 hundreds, whilst scaly alligators were basking- on the loAver 

 tiers amid flowering* bushes and everg-reens. Strag-g-ling* 

 hamlets were scattered along* the banks j and near the ford 

 I observed one constructed upon a raised platform, the 

 only instance of attic architecture that occurred during* my 

 travels. The number of huts did not exceed twenty, and 

 they appeared to have been some time uninhabited. 



AVe resumed our journey about noon. The route towards 

 an opening* in the mountains led us nearly due south, 

 throug-h an exceeding-ly rich and fruitful part of the countr}^, 

 abounding- in verdant savannahs and hamlets, around which 

 larg-e dro^^es of cattle were indulg'ing* in luxuriant pasture. 

 These were tended by armed herdsmen, and we were at 

 first surprised to observe the oxen leave their grazing*, and 

 flock around our waggons as they proceeded, snorting- and 

 exhibiting signs of pleasure, as though in recognition of 

 objects with which they were famihar. The appearance 

 shortly afterwards of several hundred Matabili warriors 

 in their war costume explained the riddle, and we knew 

 that these must be some of the cattle taken from the 

 unfortunate emigrants. Shortly before this, Mohanycom, 



* Bcdunca Eleotragus. Delineated in the Portraits of Game and Wild 

 Animals of Soutliern Africa. 



