214 TRAVELS IN 
or four feet high, which extended from the mouth of the Bos- 
jesmans' river to that of the Beeka, a distance of near fifty 
EngUsh miles ; and it is asserted, that when this mass became 
putrid, and the wind was at south-east, the stench was sen- 
sibly felt in several parts of Sneuwberg. Fortunately they 
were driven thus to sea before they had deposited their eggs 
in the ground. The larvae at the same time were emigrating 
to the northward. The column of these imperfect insects 
passed the houses of two of our party, who assured me that it 
continued moving forwards without any interruption, except 
by night, for more than a month. The gryllivori in myriads 
were close at their heels, and departed along with them, de- 
vouring them as they proceeded along, since which, till the 
present year, not one of this species of bird was to be found 
in the country. 
Hunting excursions had daily been made on the plains, at 
a distance from the river, where game of all sorts were in the 
greatest abundance ; but the chief object of our pursuit was 
the gnoo or wild beast, as it is called by the Dutch. A party 
of five or six boors, with as many Hottentots, had attended 
me for two days, in order to procure one of these animals, 
but without success. On the third day, having mustered a com- 
pany of ten boors, after a very long chace we contrived to 
hem in between two hills a troop consisting of about fifty, out 
of which, at one volley, we killed and wounded no less than 
half a dozen. This extraordinary animal is the swiftest beast 
that ranges the plains of Africa; so swift indeed that a 
traveller has not always the opportunity of getting it into his 
possession. The various descriptions that have been given of 
