356 
APPROACH TO, AND FIRST VIEW OF, 
13 July, 
half ; but which I afterwards found to be the highest and principal 
branch of the Moshawa (Moshowa), and the river which flows by the 
original town of Litakun now deserted and in ruins. Its banks were 
steep J and it was not till after some delay in searching for a prac- 
ticable road for the waggons, that they could be dragged safely to 
the opposite bank. The bed of this river, or more properly, rivulet, 
was but a few yards wide, and of this the water occupied but a small 
part ; yet, as it flows constantly during the whole year, it is regarded 
by the natives as a considerable stream, though much inferior to the 
Kruman. 
As we approached the hills which partly enclose the valley in 
which Litakun stands, the ground became more uneven and rocky. 
A number of oxen, attended by several herdsmen, and a few strag- 
gling inhabitants, showed us that we were not far from the town ; 
while some large mokaala trees, and every bush around, indicated, by 
the unsparing manner in which they had been lopped and cut for 
fuel, that we were in the immediate neighbourhood of a populous 
place. Many narrow foot-paths leading forward in one general 
direction, pointed out our way, and began to awaken my attention 
to the unexpected magnitude of the town ; for as yet I had not 
been able to gain any distinct notion of its size : every person of 
whom I had asked questions on this head, denominating it a very 
large kraal, but being unable to give me any other more defined 
idea : so that my expectations as to its extent were very much below 
what I actually found it to be. 
At length, the most gratifying sight which my journey had yet af- 
forded, presented itself ; and part of the Town of Litakun now appeared 
before me. As we advanced nearer, and gained higher ground, 
the multitude of houses which continued rising into view as far 
as I could see, excited astonishment ; while their novel form and 
character seized my whole attention, as my eager eyes surveyed and 
examined their outline though yet at a distance. They occupied, 
in detached groups, a portion of the plain, not less than a mile and 
a half in diameter. The situation of the town appeared open, 
