1812. 
SCENE ON THE BANKS OF THE GARIEP. 
17 
own men mingled in a group round the fire, sat with mutual confi- 
dence, talking and laughing with each other, or silently engaged in 
smoking, though frequently taking the pipe from the mouth to 
join in the laugh. The subject of their conversation I could not 
discover ; but the women were eager to bear their share in It, and it 
was I believe merely a natural overflowing of pleasure which they 
felt at receiving a present of tobacco. In another quarter, our patient 
oxen lay quietly chewing the cud ; and nearer at hand the sheep with 
their heads turned towards the light, stood peacefully looking on. 
Some of the dogs lay in different places, asleep at the foot of the 
trees, while others familiarly took their place In the circle round the 
fire. Various parts of our baggage, the guns and the saddle, the 
karosses and skins of my Hottentots, were hanging on the branches. 
Every nearer object within the grove was partially illuminated by 
the blaze, and their reddened hue contrasted strongly the pale silvery 
light which the bright moon shed on all without, and which here and 
there gleamed between the stems, or played upon the thin and 
feathery foliage. On the edge of the bank, under a wide-spreading 
acacia of many stems, my own sleeping-place and baggage appeared 
at the distance of a few paces. In a more retired situation ; while 
close at hand, but lower down the bank, stood my horse made 
fast to one of the trees. Between the light foliage above our heads, 
the twinkling stars enlivened our aerial canopy ; and at that hour the 
brilliant Sirius In the zenith, rivalled the brightest of the planets. 
For a long time after I had lain down for the purpose of taking my 
night's rest, the novelty and singularly romantic character of the scene 
kept me from sleep ; and admiration at the objects by which I was 
surrounded, gave rise to the most agreeable sensations and reflections, 
the pleasure of which was enhanced more especially by the friendly 
reception which, it now began to appear, we were likely to meet 
with. 
29th. I awoke long before sunrise, and watched the gradual 
approach of day. As soon as the eastern sky began to assume 
the rosy tints of morning, the moon faded slowly away, and a 
VOL. ir. D 
