1812. 
EVERGREENS. — THE RAFT. 
11 
the European traveller of his native land. To call the shrubs and 
trees of these countries, evergreens, would occasion very erroneous 
ideas to those whose notions are formed by what are commonly 
denominated so, in the gardens of our own country : although, in fact, 
there are few which are at any season quite destitute of leaves. But 
that broad and green foliage, that fresh and lively complexion, do not 
belong to the general character of the woods and thickets of the 
Interior ; notwithstanding some exceptions. These last remarks, 
however, must be considered as applicable only to the regions remote 
from the sea-coast: there are forests and woods in other parts, whicli 
exhibit a very different and superior character. 
As it could not be expected at this season of the year, that the 
waters of the Gariep would be so low as to admit of our fording it, 
our object had been to find a part of its course where the stream 
was of the least width, or of greatest depth ; as in this latter 
case the surface would be more still and smooth, and the current 
less rapid and powerful. We now, therefore, had to construct a raft 
fit for conveying over our bedding and goods, our guns and am- 
munition, as well as those of our party who were unable to swim 
across. 
With this view, our first business was to collect a number of logs 
of dead willow wood ; the acacia and other woods being too heavj^ 
for the purpose ; and even the willow when green, having the 
same defect. The raft was made of a quadrangular form, of six feet 
in length and the same breadth, by several regular layers of logs 
crossing each other, and bound together with long strips of acacia 
bark. The Hottentots have found by experience that, on such 
occasions, green bark is preferable to thongs of leather or raw hide; 
because the leather or hide, when soaked in water, soon grows soft, 
stretches, and becomes loose. 
The raft being launched and loaded, was found not capable of 
carrying more than the half of our goods ; and it then required ten 
men to manage it. Some swam before and dragged it on by a rope, 
while others behind pushed it forwards ; but the strength of the 
current continuing to carry them down the stream, they crossed in 
c 2 
