50 
travel along with, us, as the country is very broken, but 
being so anxious to take it I decline to believe them. 
June 2^th. Sunday. Still at the Umtblazingwan. Have 
been out to try and get a shot at the koodoo and other buck 
amongst the hills round here, but unsuccessful. It was 
useless waiting for more Caffres to come, so next day 
Dubois started off with La Mule and another to go down 
the Berg and forage for bearers amongst the kraals under 
the mountain. As he had to go by the pass, down which 
we hoped to take the cart, I went with him so far to 
reconnoitre, and see if it was practicable, as, if so, we 
might make a start before he returned, and meet him 
below. After riding for about sixteen miles we reached 
the pass, and from the edge of the mountain range, which 
here terminated very abruptly, a splendid view met our 
eyes as we looked down upon what appeared an endless 
and gently undulating plain covered with wood, and 
unbroken, as far as the eye could reach, in every direction, 
except where three odd-looking isolated hills suddenly rose 
from the ground about half-way between us and the 
horizon, and we could also see the Oliphant river, which 
here flows out of the Drachensburg, winding away like a 
silver streak through the plain below, and whose course, 
where the water was lost sight of, could be distinctly 
traced for miles by a line of enormous evergreen forest 
trees which only grew directly by the water^ — the friendly 
Oliphant which, during the two months we spent upon its 
banks, was our guide, and afforded us the one great 
necessary and comfort of our life, without any trouble on 
our part, namely, a plentiful supply of delicious water. 
The game country was really reached at last, and one felt 
the delay in getting bearers more irksome and tedious than 
ever. 
The first glance at the almost precipitous path, with 
great boulders sticking up on all sides, shewed us the 
