254 TRAVELS I 
the oxen hurried to the brink of the precipice^ 
while, on the fide oppofite to the declivities, 
we were pulling with all our force the ropes 
faftened to the waggon. Our addrefs being 
crowned with complete fuccefs, we afcended 
to bring down the other two carriages ; and^ 
after a confiderable time, the whole caravan 
arrived fafe at the bottom of the mountain. 
It appeared to me that Nature had oppofed 
this barrier, as an obftacle to prevent me from 
entering on this new country ; and that it was 
here fhe had concealed her moft beautiful 
treafures : on this account I had been fo much 
the more incited to overcome every thing that 
ftood in my way. I knew that this route 
from Auteniqua to the Ange-Kloof was con- 
fidered by the natives as impradicable ; and 
that no perfon before me had ever attempt- 
ed it with carriages. This was fulEcient to 
pique my vanity ; and I had the good fortune 
to pafs thefe rocks: but, as if it had been necef- 
fary that punifliment fhould immediately fol- 
low fuch a rafli attempt, I found myfelf in a 
moft frightful and gloomy defart. 
This was no longer the delightful and fer- 
tile country of Auteniqua : the mountain 
which we had croffed, or rather from which 
W4 
