464 T R A V E L S I N 
not breaking up till the {]xn niaie its ap- 
pearance. 
While they were all preparing to lleep, I 
took leave of my guefts, and direded my fteps 
acrofs the long Valley of Spring-bocks. The 
valley had no name ; but I fo called it on ac- 
count of a vafl: herd of thefe animals, which I 
found there, and which was more numerous 
than any 1 had ever feen. I am not afraid of 
exceeding the truth, if I fay it was compof- ^ 
ed of fixty or eighty thoufand. In fhort, 
the whole day was fpent in travelling feven 
leagues, and all the way we faw nothing but 
fpring-bocks before us, and on every fide. 
They feemed to fill the valley and block up 
the paffage againft us. 
The next morning we were able to advance 
no mere than three leagues ; but it was for 
another reafon. In paffing a difficult road, 
one of my waggons was overturned. The 
pole was broken, as were three fpokes of the 
hind wheels ; and, to increafe our misfortune, 
we v;ere obliged to unload it before we could 
get it up again. 
The lofs of the pole was eafily fupplied, as 
I had 
t 
