76 



CHAPTER V. 



Theopolis— The Cowie River— Bathurst — Poortes— Cottage— Inn at 

 the Bushman's River — Travellers benighted — Anecdote — 

 Dreary Ride — Hottentot and Hyama — Voyage from Port Eliza- 

 beth— A Gale off the Cape— Loss of the Government Schooner 

 Francis. 



Quitting Graham's Town, I proceeded towards 

 Theopolis, a station about five-and-twenty miles dis- 

 tant towards the coast. The heat of the day being 

 exceedingly oppressive, I had deferred starting until 

 the afternoon, an advantage which I was enabled to 

 appreciate, as I descended the steep mountain of 

 Graham's Town. The road lay over an open and 

 fertile country, occasionally intersected by small 

 rivulets, and clothed in many places with rich and 

 variegated verdure. The sun as it approached the 

 horizon shed a mellow and softened glow on the 

 delightful scenery, its setting rays gilding the tops 

 of the distant mountains, and producing tints of ex- 

 quisite beauty. There was a delicious softness in 

 the air, that harmonized agreeably with the feelings ; 

 and as the last beam of day departed, the closing 

 scene was indescribably lovely. Continuing our 

 ride, we entered a dark and dreary thicket, where 

 the fire-flies lit up their tiny lamps, sporting amidst 

 the umbrageous foliage, and casting a romantic 



