42 
JOURNEY TO BETHELSDORP. [1813. 
ground, after which, if it happens to rain, good grass 
springs up in a short time. We saw two of these 
great fires at a distance, which afforded us some 
amusement, but it must have been fatal to myriads of 
noxious vermin and reptiles. The lions, tygers, and 
other beasts, must also experience a temporary incon- 
venience. We travelled the whole night, till about six 
next morning. I confess I was surprised that the oxen 
could continue to travel eleven hours together. 
24th. The place where we halted is called Churn- 
milk- Valley, which is full of trees, all of which are 
natives of Africa. Thermometer, at four P.M. in the 
shade, seventy-eight. At five we left this valley, 
directing our course eastward, with the same chain of 
huge mountains on our left. The country before us, 
and towards the sea on our right, was covered with 
small hills, many of which resembled Table Mountain 
at the Cape. I have frequently remarked when travel- 
ing in Scotland and England, that when one hill 
appears of a particular shape, there are others in tlie 
vicinity of a similar form : the same thing occurs in 
Africa. 
At sun-set we crossed Slang (or Serpent) river. I 
tasted of its water, but it was so brackish, that I could 
not drink it. The boor in the neighbourhood is obliged 
to bring his w ater from hills ten miles distant. The 
country around is thinly inhabited, and the people are 
destitute of all means of information, respecting the 
present and the future world. Their life appears ta 
