SOUTHERN AFRICA. 27 -i 



CHAPTER XXXVII. 



EXCURSION ON HORSEBACK IN QUEST OF ASSISTANCE^ 

 AND MEETING WITH THE EMIGRANT FARMERS. 



So dreadfully had our horses suffered during the late cam- 

 paig-n^ that it was with considerable difficulty I succeeded in 

 selecting' from the whole drove three that appeared fit for 

 service. With these, and a good supply of ammunition, I 

 set out on the morning of the 8th of January, attended by 

 Andries, and joyfully turned my back upon the disastrous 

 hill, near which we had been so long spell-bound. Proceed- 

 ing several miles to the westward, we ascended a high, barren 

 range, overlooking an extensive valley, and soon discovered 

 that the columns of dust which had been greeted as the har- 

 bingers of relief from our misfortunes, were occasioned by 

 the mad careering of troops of gnoos. Thus disappointed, 

 we swept round to the southward, and night closing in after 

 we had ridden about forty miles, we lay down to sleep in an 

 ohve brake, on the bank of a small stream. It rained very 

 heavily for some hours, and the bushes not keeping out the 

 water, rather added to than diminished the discomfort, so that 

 I had sufficient reason to rejoice at the return of daylight. 

 Continuing our search in parallel lines along the heights, I 

 reconnoitred the whole country through a telescope, and 

 after having been twice deceived by herds of spring-bucks, 

 at length discovered a veritable flock of sheep, grazing in a 

 distant valley. Overjoyed at the discovery, I hastened to- 

 wards the spot, and turning the flank of a detached range, a 

 most cheering prospect was suddenly opened to my view, 



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