SOUTHERN AFRICA. 49 
multiplicity of objects; for in vuin did the eye wander in search 
of tree, or lofty shrub, or blade of grass, or living creature. On 
every side a wide spreading plain, barren as its southern bound- 
ary, the Black Mountains, presented nothingbuta dreary waste, 
*' a land of desolation." On approaching the river Ghanika 
the face of the country changed a little for the better. Large 
mimosas skirted its banks, among which were also mingled a 
species of willow with a narrow serrated leaf, a rhiis, and the 
lijceum afriim. A considerable stream of water rolled aver the 
bed of the river. Here we meet with hares,, partridges, moun- 
tain geese, and wild ducks of two kinds, in great abundance. 
The blue schistus broke out on the banks of the river, and still 
continued to run directly east and west in parallel ridges. 
That part of the Lion's river where we were encamped was 
distant only about twelve miles from a chasm or kloof in the 
Zwarteberg, in the very mouth of which v/as said to be a farm- 
house, and several others behind the mountains. As these 
houses all belonged to the district of Graaff Reynet, the land- 
rost was not without hopes of procuring the loan of fresh 
teams of bullocks. Many of our own had already died, others 
were left on the desert, and the rest were quite exhausted by 
the effects of the cold, of bad water, and little food. We 
therefore quitted the direct road, and turned off towards 
Zwarteberg. A few miles before we arrived at the kloof, a 
party of men, mounted on horseback, Avere observed to be 
making for the w^aggons in full gallop. In coming up with 
the first, they stopt short and fired a discharge of musquetry. 
Tbey loaded again, rode up to the second, and fired a second 
volley : this they repeated before every waggon, and then set 
VOL. I. II 
