DREARY RIDE. 83 



the view was rendered cheerful by the appearance 

 of several waggons drawn up at some distance, their 

 oxen grazing in straggling groups, while the Hot- 

 tentot drivers were reposing themselves around the 

 fires, or preparing their evening meal. The day 

 began to close as I passed Assagai Bush, and the sun 

 had set long before I reached the neighbourhood of 

 the Bushman's River, where it was my intention to 

 halt for the night. I had now entered a dreary part of 

 the country, thickly wooded, and affording shelter to 

 elephants. Enveloped in the gloom of my own reflec- 

 tions, as well as that of the forest, I could frequently 

 imagine that I heard their shrill and discordant cry 

 borne on the evening breeze, as if my intrusion had 

 disturbed their peaceful solitude. 



Continuing my solitary ride down a gentle decli- 

 vity, I caught the glimpse of a flickering light, and 

 felt assured that it proceeded either from the fires of 

 casual travellers bivouacking on the plain, or the 

 cottage inn to which I was bound, and from which 

 I felt assured that I could not now be far distant. 

 On reaching the foot of the hill, I increased the speed 

 of my horse, but lost sight of the cheering prospect 

 as I traversed the hollow ; and it was not until I 

 began to fear I had been mistaken, that the barking 

 of dogs gave the welcome sign of my approach to 

 some human habitation. I soon afterwards reached 

 a small comfortable house kept by an Englishman 

 for the accommodation of travellers, where I met a 



G 2 



