74 graham's town. 



Commandant on the frontier, from whom it takes its 

 name. A detachment of troops is regularly quar- 

 tered here, to protect the Colonists from the preda- 

 tory incursions of the Caffers. This military station 

 is situated on the Keishamma river, surrounded by 

 hills and mountains, which reflect upon it in summer 

 the most intolerable heat. 



Leaving Fort Wiltshire, we crossed the Fish 

 River, and proceeded by way of Hermanau's Kraal, 

 through Groveller's Kloof, to Graham's Town, which 

 we reached the same evening. Here I parted with 

 Thackwray, who went soon afterwards to obtain the 

 tusks of those elephants which he had shot during 

 our recent excursion. 



Having been accompanied by this enterprising 

 young man throughout my first visit to Cafferland, I 

 was much shocked on learning from the Colonial 

 Journal, some time afterwards, that he had lost his 

 life in an encounter with elephants similar to that I 

 have described, and almost on the very spot which 

 had been the scene of our recent adventure. It ap- 

 peared that he was pursuing his usual occupation, 

 accompanied by a Hottentot, when they fell in with 

 a herd of elephants, and wounded one. Gn seeing 

 it fall, the Hottentot supposed that it was dead ; but 

 on his approach the animal rose and rushed furi- 

 ously towards him : he threw himself instantly on 

 the ground, and the enraged elephant passed him by, 

 tearing up and scattering the trees in its progress, 



