194 A DANGEROUS DESCENT. 



and called him an old Schelms, insisting that he 

 knew perfectly well. The dispute was running very 

 high between them, when Mr. V. interposed, and 

 decided that the young Caffer was entitled according 

 to the Colonial Laws, under which he was living, to 

 demand the restoration of the girl, no man being 

 allowed to detain another's wife, however nearly re- 

 lated, and that the father must deliver her up 

 immediately. On this the old man promised that 

 the girl should be forthcoming in the evening, much 

 to the delight of his son-in-law, who exclaimed — 

 " There ; did I not say he was an old Schelms : he 

 declared just now that he knew nothing about her." 

 They then departed, the young man evidently well 

 pleased with the decision of the magistrate, and the 

 prospect of a re-union with the object of his affec- 

 tions. 



Taking our departure from Glen Lynden, after a 

 stay of several days, during which we made many 

 interesting additions to our ornithological specimens, 

 we doubled a mountain on our left, and arrived at 

 the brink of a fearful declivity, that seemed to 

 threaten destruction to our waggon ; but by the help 

 of some Hottentots, whom Mr. Van der Nes had 

 kindly sent to assist us, we succeeded in reaching 

 the bottom in safety. During our descent we were 

 much impressed with the sublimity of the scenery : 

 the vast range of the Kaka mountains on one side 

 clothed to their very summits with magnificent woods, 



