252 EXrEDITION INTO 



brab tree. Possessing* nlso^ the power of rolling- itself into 

 a ball like a hedg-eliog'^ this otherwise defenceless animal is 

 at once rendered perfectly invulnerable to the attacks of its 

 foes. 



The soil in this neig'hbourhood was black ; and owing- to 

 the g'reat quantity of rain that had fallen during- the nig'hty 

 we found ourselves fairly water-log'g'ed in the morning. This 

 was considered a rare opportunity for breaking- in some of 

 the oxen that had never yet bowed their stiff necks to the 

 yoke^ and their rebellious spirits once subdued by the un- 

 sparing- administration of the whip^ they presently drag-g-ed 

 us out of our difficulties. Ascending- g-radually to the base 

 of the three table mountains^ which like natural buttresses 

 protruded their bold outlines into the monotonous landscape^ 

 an extensive and stirring- prospect burst upon our astonished 

 g-aze. Gone were the level plains^ over which the ling-ering- 

 eye had wandered for days without once finding- an object 

 upon which to repose. Hill and dale^ mountain and valley, 

 stretched away at our feet in fair variet}^, terminated in the 

 remote horizon by the crag-g-y summits of the well-known 

 Wittehcrgeu — those 



" Sterile mountains, rougli and steep, 

 That bound abrupt the valley deep, 

 Heaving to the clear, blue, sky 

 Their ribs of granite, bare and dry." 



Half crazy with delight, and never dreaming- of the distance 

 that still intervened, or the troubles that were yet in store, 

 every one instantly affected to recog-nize some landmark with 

 which he was familiar; and whilst many actually talked 

 themselves into a belief that they could distinguish the 

 smoke from the missionary's chimney at Phillipolis, still one 

 hundred and fifty miles distant, Andries positively asserted 

 that a line of bushes, which skirted the remaining- propor- 

 tion of level land, was the Modeler Riviere. 



