186 . bavian's river. 



a sulphurous yellow extends under the eye, and a little 

 beyond it ; and there are two naked, black strioe under 

 the throat. The specific name of gryllivorus may with 

 propriety be given to it, as its whole food seems to 

 consist of the larvae of the locust, at least when they 

 are to be obtained ; and the numbers of the gryllivori 

 are not less astonishing than those of the locusts*. 



Two days' travelling through a richly-diversified 

 country brought us to a narrow defile lying between 

 a range of rocky mountains, which led to the cele- 

 brated settlement of Glen Lynden. The sun was 

 descending the horizon when we entered this ravine, 

 through which the Bavian's River winds its course ; 

 and so narrow and contracted is the path, that in 

 many places the channel of the river forms part of 

 the main road : this must be altogether impassable 

 when those heavy rains which prevail at certain 

 periods of the year have augmented the mountain 

 torrents. The Hottentot herdsmen returning down 

 the sides of the precipitous mountains with their 

 flocks, which were skipping playfully from crag to 

 crag, formed an interesting feature in the scene. 



" And now along the dusky vale 

 The homeward herds and flocks I hail, 

 Returning from their pastures dry 

 Amid the stony uplands high. 

 First, the brown Herder with his flock 

 Comes winding round my hermit-rock : 

 His mien and gait and vesture tell 

 No shepherd he from Scottish fell ; * 



.* Barrow's Travels. 



