THE RIVER CROSSED. 125 



a strong rheim, that with many turns fastened two 

 oi the trek-tows, gave way, and left me once more in 

 trouble. 



The river had at this moment increased about six 

 inches, and was now stronger than on the preceding 

 day ; moreover, it was still increasing. This put me 

 at once in great consternation ; my hopes, which a little 

 before were very high, now sank, and I expected in a 

 few hours, perhaps, to see my wagon overwhelmed and 

 swept away. This, however, was not the case ; the 

 river did not increase much more, and in our second 

 attempt we were successful. The' trek-tows were on 

 this occasion knotted together, the oxen all trekked fair 

 and together, and the heavily-laden wagon, with its pre- 

 cious contents, was rescued from a watery grave. We 

 hailed its rescue with continued cheers : the oxen held 

 stoutly on, and dragged the wagon without a check 

 right out to the shallow water on the border of the 

 river. We then shortened the gear, and, having in- 

 spanned two after-bullocks, drove the wagon right out 

 of the river's bed, and outspanned on the top of the 

 high bank. 



The next move was to get the other wagons through. 

 The Griquas at first made some demur, saying that it 

 was Sunday ; but I very soon got rid of that objection 

 by telling them that I would prepare some food and 

 coffee for them, when they set to work with a good will, 

 and in two hours more the other three wagons were 

 brought safely through, and were high and dry. 



On the 8th we entered the village of Colesberg. All 

 the forenoon I was busy off-loading two of the wagons. 

 We spread out the curiosities in the market-ground, 

 making no end of a parade : it was truly a very remark- 

 able sight, and struck all beholders with astonishment. 



