AFRICA. 281 
Karaw, after leaving Snewberg, and that It had 
proved a fign equally certain of the fterility of 
the diftridl : whereas neither in the fertile 
country of the CafFres, nor in the delightful 
groves of Auteniqua, had I ever obferved a 
bird of this kind a contraft that excited in my 
mind the moft melancholy fenfations. 
We had arrived at Oliphants-Kop at fo early 
an hour, that I hoped we fliould be able to pro- 
ceed a few leagues farther before the clofe of 
the day ; and I was the more refolved to do 
fo, as, feeing neither pafturage nor water, it 
was neceflary for me to truft to the chance of 
finding, at a greater diftance, a more commo- 
dious fpot for encamping. I gave orders 
therefore for cur departure ; but when my 
people began to harnefs my oxen, not one of 
them was found fit for fervice : they all lay 
down around the waggon fo apparently ex- 
haufted, that there was reafon to apprehend 
they would never rife again upon their legs. 
What fituation could be more dreadful ? I 
faw myfelf obliged to pafs the night in this 
parched and barren fpot, where my cattle were 
about to perifh for want of water and food, 
and we ourfeives, in like manner, were tor- 
6 mented 
