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CHAPTER VII. 



Balfour— Bonte-bok — Vlatke — Accident from Lion-hunting — Ac- 

 count of a Lion-hunt — Romantic Scenery. 



Directing our course to Balfour, one of the prin- 

 cipal stations of this new settlement, we had now 

 to cross a steep ridge, covered with low bushes 

 and loose rocky stones, over which no path or wag- 

 gon track was anywhere visible ; and it was not 

 until after several hours spent in violent exertions 

 to stimulate the oxen, that we succeeded in gain- 

 ing the summit. Here we found that we must de- 

 scend another ridge, almost as steep as the one we 

 had just mounted, which proved sadly destructive to 

 the hoofs of the oxen, as well as to the wheels of 

 the waggon. From this point we had the view 

 of another colony of Hottentots, with their small 

 patches of cultivated ground. Passing these at some 

 little distance, we proceeded to the residence of the 

 Rev. Mr. Thomson, at Balfour, who had lately been 

 appointed minister to the settlement, and by him 

 were received with great kindness. He accom- 

 panied me on horseback to the adjoining hamlet, 

 occupied by a party of industrious Hottentots, who 

 had come from the Missionary Station at Theopolis. 

 They had been particularly fortunate in their crops 



