30 
help us. We also applied to the magistrate who knew 
Woodro£fe, and kindly sent off a messenger into the 
country to try and get some men. Another ox died to-day, 
and others are sick of the disease. Had to spend all the 
next day at Greytown, and the delay was very aggravating, 
hut there was no help for it, as the Caffres had not come 
in. It was a dull, foggy day, and rained all the evening. 
We had an addition to our party in the shape of a large 
dog given to Woodroffe to take up country, named ^^Lion,'' 
half greyhound and deerhound, and supposed to be able 
to catch the antelope. We have much felt the want of 
wood, which is very scarce along the road, in fact, we 
have seen none ; and the never-ending plains of grass, 
unbroken by any trees, become monotonous to look at. 
Another ox died, and now there are only twenty-five left. 
May \Qth. Still at Greytown. Very windy and 
boisterous weather. The Cafires that came with us from 
Pieter-Maritzburg left us to return home, resisting all our 
persuasions to induce them to go on. Next day we were 
much pleased to find that the magistrate had succeeded in 
getting us the required men, and we at once prepared to 
set off. Engaged a Dutchman to lend us a span of oxen 
for the day, to help us up the hill above Grey town, as 
another ox had died, and we were considerably short of 
the right number for the wagons. Passed through 
Greytown, and after a four hours' trek we camped on the 
edge of the thorns," a large tract of country covered 
thickly with thorn bushes. Found a wagon outspanned 
close by us, and, after a considerable talk, managed to 
buy four oxen from the span, which turned out a good 
purchase. The Caffres came to us here, but were rather 
old men, and asked to be allowed to return to their kraals 
and get some others in their stead, who they promised 
should join us that evening. While camped here two men 
with a horse and sleigh came up, on their road to the new 
