THE DELAGOA FEVER. 285 



frequently seen. The Omkoosie River is rapid, and 

 about three hundred feet broad: on its banks the 

 party killed a large boa-constrictor. After their 

 bivouac at this stream, on the 10th of March they 

 skirted a range of mountains called the Bombo, 

 running nearly north and south. On the 11th, keep- 

 ing close to the base of these hills, on their 

 western side they forded the Pongola River, which 

 passes through the range towards the sea. The 

 country was swampy, covered with mimosas, and con- 

 sisted of extensive plains. They ascended the Bombo 

 Mountains on the 12th, and on their summits they 

 fell in with many natives, and much cultivated land. 

 Here the Chiefs, who had already sent for their 

 wizard-doctor from a distance, in consequence of 

 the approaching annual visitation of the Delagoa 

 fever, which they stated generally to visit this chain, 

 attempted to dissuade them from proceeding ; but 

 having reached thus far, the travellers were not dis- 

 posed to relinquish the great object of all their pre- 

 ceding toil." 



On the 14th, with very considerable difficulty they 

 descended this last hilly barrier between them and 

 the Portuguese settlement, crossed the Ongovoomo 

 River, and reached Undolomba's kraal, a petty Chief 

 of a tribe called Unnumie, under the sovereignty of 

 Sadooka. At this village, and at most of those they 

 subsequently passed, they were received with dis- 

 trust and hesitation ; but Avhen they provided the na- 

 tives with food, the produce of their guns, the poor 



