\ 
A F R I C A.- 177 
lefs parched, and to keep at home only thofe 
abfolutely neceflary either for tilling the land 
or conveying their corn to the town. 
Every kind of large game, without except- 
ing even the elephant, was found formerly in 
this country. At prefent nothing of that 
fort is to be feen but a few bubels, and very 
rarely fome pafans. The planters, by fettling 
here, have deftroyed or driven away all 
the reft. With regard to fmall game, fuch 
as the fteen-bock, the duyker, the grys-bock, 
hares, partridges, &c. it is ftill very abun- 
dant, and, perhaps, too much fo for the hap-- 
pinefs of the country ; fince it draws thither 
hysenas, jackals, leopards, panthers, and above 
all, wild dogs, which are a real fcourgc to 
the flocks in this diftrifl:. The lion feldoin 
makes his appearance here. Either from 
haughtinefs or prudence this animal fhuns in- 
habited places ; as if afraid of expofing kim- 
felf in an unequal conteft, where his courage 
and his ftrength would be oppofed by fire- 
arms. 
To the north-eaft of Swart-Land Is the 
charming and fertile diftridt of the Twenty- 
four-Rivers, With frefh pleafure I beheld this 
Vol. L N ter* 
