-S56 TTRAVELS IN 
relations of Vaillant and Patterson, the agates extend down 
the bed of the river as far as its mouth, on the western coast ; 
but neither of these authors makes any mention of the spotted 
stones which, had they been there, must have obtruded them- 
selves on their notice, being no less singular and beautiful 
than they were numerous ; whole banks were entirely com- 
posed of them and the others above mentioned. They oc- 
curred of all sizes, from a line to a foot in diameter, generally 
rounded and smoothly polished by attrition in their passage 
down the river. The rocky banks were composed of masses 
that apparently consisted of clay and mica, containing also 
a considerable portion of the oxyd of iron. The angles of 
these were likewise rounded off, and their surfaces worn 
smooth by the action of the current. From alternate exposure 
to water and the sun, they had contracted a glossy black 
color, bearing a resemblance to black, glazed, earthen ware. 
The mountains that ^vere contiguous to the river had generally 
their summits of grey quartz; under this a stratum of iron- 
stone, then sand-stone, and lastly slate. The strata were laid 
horizontally, or very nearly so. 
The fishing-tackle of the Bosjesmans, lying in several places 
on the banks of the river, and in good order, indicated plainly 
that many of these people were in the neighbourhood. It 
consisted principally of baskets made of osiers, and of the 
stems of reeds worked in alternate rows ; one being white, and 
the other dark-brown, the mixture gave them a very pretty 
appearance. The workmanship was firm and neat, and the 
contrivance sufficiently clever, being of the same nature as 
those wicker-baskets used in Europe for the like purpose. 
