THE EARTH-WOLF. 307 



of the Zwartkops River, about eighteen miles from 

 Port Elizabeth. 



The town is delightfully situated, and, when 

 viewed from the surrounding heights, presents a 

 most picturesque appearance. The streets are wide 

 and regular, intersecting each other at right angles. 

 The houses, about one hundred and sixty in number, 

 are for the most part substantial and respectable 

 buildings, with extensive gardens attached. The 

 river which glides by the lower end of the town, 

 unlike the general character of African rivers, is 

 a clear and constantly flowing stream. The water 

 used for the purpose of irrigation has its source at a 

 fountain in the Winterhoek Mountains. 



The population of the town and district amounts 

 to upwards of eight thousand souls. 



Quitting Uitenhage, we encamped on a plain near 

 the Vanstaden River, where we remained several 

 days. Understanding the species of Aard or earth- 

 wolf, Proteles Lalandii, to be rather numerous in 

 the neighbourhood, and being desirous of obtaining 

 a specimen of this quadruped described by De La- 

 lande, I accompanied a farmer of the name of Zwart 

 in search of their burrows. We soon discovered 

 the spoor or track of these animals quite fresh. Fol- 

 lowing it for some distance over sandy hillocks thickly 

 covered with bushes, we at length found their retreat, 

 which to all appearance they had recently quitted. 

 It was a subterraneous cave, with several holes, 



X 2 



