.1812. 
ARRIVAL AT AN UNEXPLORED RIVER. 
19 
proved to be the new river, which hitherto was known to the Klaar- 
water Hottentots, only at its confluence with the Gariep, and for a 
few miles higher up its course. The water in the pools along this part 
of its bed, being of a strongly brackish quality, they had designated 
it merely as the Brak rivier. This name, at length, was taken into com- 
mon use by our party, and occasioned us totally to neglect inquiring of 
the natives its proper name : a neglect which I the more regret as 
the name of Brak rivier has already been given to too many streams 
in the colony, to admit of increasing the number by fixing it upon 
this one ; to which indeed it is not applicable, excepting a few miles of 
the lower part of its course. As a river of this length bears, doubt- 
lessly, some distinctive appellation among the Bushmen, I have not 
presumed to give it one of my own ; but leave this blank in my map 
to be filled up by some traveller who may hereafter discover the 
name by which it has been always known to the aboriginal inhabitants 
of the country. 
The spot where we now for the first time fell in with it, is 
pointed out on the map by the words First Station. At this season 
its bed was in most places dry ; and that which in the time of the rains, 
must be a deep river, was now merely a line of ponds or pools, 
separated from each other, in some places by only a few yards of 
dry ground, and in others by the distance of a quarter of a mile. 
That pool, by the side of which we had halted, was of an intolerable 
alkaline taste ; but the people were obliged to drink from it, and gladly 
took advantage of the excuse it afforded, to ask for a glass of brandy 
to counteract its nauseous effects. It was the more fortunate that 
the water of this river was nowhere of this unwholesome nature, 
excepting at the lower part of its course, as our whole stock of 
brandy was contained in a quart bottle. 
The country every where around us, was flat and open ; and 
though lightly covered with low stunted bushes, not a tree was to 
be seen. At nio;ht we tied the horse and oxen to the strongest of 
the shrubs ; and pulling up a quantity of others, formed them into 
a semicircular hedge, to shelter us from the wind and rain with 
which the clouds began to threaten us. 
D 2 
