SOUTHERN AFRICA. 87 
In one part of the valley there is a morass of considerable 
extent, which however, by cutting one single drain, might be 
converted into a very beautiful meadow. The vast numbers 
of the Egyptian and the Mountain goose, of teals, and several 
other species of ducks, that harbour in the reeds by which 
the swamp is covered, are incredible, and the damage which 
the farmers sustain by them in their crops is said to be very 
considerable. I have seen indeed a field literally covered 
with them ; and they were too bold to be driven away by 
shooting at them. The buffalos also descend from the thick- 
ets by night, and commit great depredations among the corn. 
These huge animals are, however, much more easily chased 
away than the geese, and make a precipitate retreat at the 
report even of a musquet. 
This marsh or morass concealed also a species of antelope, 
or goat, called the riet-hok, or reed-goat, which does not ap- 
pear to be described in the Systema 'Natiirce. In color and 
size the male has a considerable resemblance to the leucophcea 
or blue antelope. Its horns are from nine inches to a foot 
in length, diverge a little towards the points which are bent 
forwards, and are annulated about one-fourth of the length 
from the base. A crest of short hair runs from the throat to 
the chest, which circumstance may probably assign it a 
place in the goat genus. The distinction however between 
these two genera seems to be arbitrary and not drawn by na- 
ture. The reed goat is a very rare animal, and known only 
in few parts of the colony. Another species of antelope is 
very common in the neighbourhood of Zwart-Kop's bay. It is 
known by the Hottentot name of orabie. Except in color and 
