SOUTHERN AFRICA. 
CHAP. IV. 
Sketches made on a Journey from Granff Reynet along the Sea-coast ta- 
the Cape. 
The long continuance of dry weather had, for more than a 
month, rendered the passage of the Karroo, or great desert, im- 
practicable, on account of the scarcity both of water and of 
herbage. All the rivers that intersect it, and the few springs 
that are found upon it, were said to be completely dried up ; 
and the farmers of Graaflf Reynet, who, at this season of the 
year, just after their harvest, generally make their annual visit 
to the Cape, were under the necessity of delaying their journey, 
or of going round through the district of Zwellendam, in all 
parts of which, and at all seasons of theycar, there is abundance 
of water. Three days> however, previous to our departure 
from Graaft' Reynet, there had fallen such heavy and con- 
tinued rain, both at that place, and to the westward in the 
mountains of Camdeboo and Sneuwberg, that little doubt 
was entertained of its having brought upon the Karroo a plen- 
tiful supply of water, as far at least as De Beer valley^ the de- 
lightful meadow of the desert, mentioned in a former chap- 
ter. 
On the strength of this conjecture, we departed from Graaff 
Reynet on the niuth of December, and tbuad the two rivers, 
