188 THE BOSCII-BOK. 



hour, therefore, we proceeded on horseback up a 

 steep ascent, overlooking a wide and extensive valley, 

 covered with long thick grass, one slope clothed with 

 lofty forest trees, and the other with occasional clumps 

 of park-like copse- wood, where we observed the 

 bosch-bok (Antilope sylvatica) feeding near the out- 

 skirts. These elegant animals inhabit the thick 

 forests ; but at the dawn of day leave their sylvan 

 retreat, and are to be seen feeding in the valleys and 

 adjacent plains : so shy were they on this occasion, 

 that immediately on catching sight of us they re- 

 treated into the covert. A narrow path, winding 

 through this delightful valley, led us to a vista in the 

 forest, on entering which we were embowered 

 amidst the most beautiful foliage : 



" Majestic woods of every vigorous green, 

 Stage above stage, high waving o'er the hills, 

 Or to the far horizon wide diffused 

 A boundless, deep immensity of shade. 

 Here lofty trees to ancient song unknown, 

 The noble sons of potent heat and floods 

 Prone-rushing from the clouds, rear high to heaven 

 Their thorny stems, and broad around them throw 

 Meridian gloom." 



The yellow wood, the wild cedar, the coral, the 

 olive, and many other trees spread their branches far 

 and wide, from which various creeping plants were 

 suspended in fantastic but graceful festoons, having 

 in many places so closely entwined themselves with 

 the thick underwood, as to render it a matterjpf 



