LION RIVER. 101 



willow and yellow-blossomed mimosa, growing amidst 

 the copsewood, that formed a fine ambush for those 

 beasts of prey from which the river takes its name. 

 It rises in the Beaufort Mountains, and is a very noble 

 stream when the channel is full, which is rarely the 

 case, and only in the summer season, during the 

 prevalence of thunder-storms. Here we met a re- 

 spectable farmer of the name of Abraham de Clerk, 

 possessing a large flock of sheep, and residing 

 with his family on the banks. He informed us 

 that he had lately seen a herd of spring-boks 

 (Antilope euchor) feeding in the neighbourhood, 

 and offered to accompany us with his sons to the 

 spot, if we felt disposed to proceed in pursuit of them 

 whilst our oxen were grazing. We were not suc- 

 cessful on the present occasion, finding the animals 

 extremely wild ; but on the following day one of our 

 party shot three not far from our place of encamp- 

 ment ; before, however, the Hottentots, who were 

 sent to bring them, could reach the spot where they 

 were lying, the vultures had commenced their depre- 

 dations. De Clerk and his family appeared quite 

 happy and contented amidst the loneliness of their 

 situation : — 



" Our rocks are rough, but smiling there 

 Th' acacia waves her yellow hair, 

 Lonely and sweet, nor loved the less 

 For flowering in the wilderness. 

 Our sands are bare, but down their slope 

 The silvry-footed antelope 

 As gracefully and gaily springs 

 As in the marble courts of kings." 



