43 
place wliere we intended to outspan for the night, which 
rather riled us, but after a little trouble we succeeded in 
putting it out. ^'Dumpling" gave Kemp rather an 
awkward fall over some rocky ground to-day while he 
was carrying my rifle, but luckily no harm done. Saw a 
small herd of the beautiful little steinbok ; but missed an 
easy shot in a most disgraceful manner. Still trying in 
vain to buy oxen wherever there is a chance. 
June Wth, A very misty morning which delayed our 
starting so soon as usual, as we could not see a yard, and 
the oxen can't travel when it is wet, as the yokes wring 
their necks. At last it cleared up a little and we started, 
but the wagon running up against a great stone in a 
stream, E.'s cart was jerked off behind, and had to be 
tied together again ; and I am rather doubtful if it will 
hang together till Leydenburg, and half wish I had never 
seen it. Crossed the Cromarty river, having safely got 
over a nasty bit of ground which was full of mud holes. 
The weather is now getting milder as we descend, which 
is a comfort for ourselves and still more so for the oxen, 
which are terribly cut up and nearly worn out. One of 
my leather gun covers was jerked out of the wagon this 
afternoon, but though a Caffre was sent back to our last 
halting place, it couldn't be found; unfortunately it is a 
loss that cannot be replaced. 
June IMh, Still descending ; and to-day we camped in 
the valley of the Crocodile river, the pleasantest spot we 
have seen for a long time — more vegetation and plenty of 
wood. Not more than eighteen miles from Leydenburg 
we are told, which is comforting. I shot another pau 
here ; a pair of these birds getting up quite close under 
my horse's feet as I was riding through the long grass. 
As we saw several farms dotted about the valley, Dubois 
went off again to try and buy oxen ; he only, however, 
managed to hire a span to take one of our wagons into 
