FteB.] JOURNEY TO BETHELSDORP. 
45 
travelled among trees on the banks of the bed of a river 
which was dry. Large aloes grew abundantly on the sides 
of the road, and to the very summits of the hills, some 
of which were ten or twelve feet besides the flower. 
At sun-set we came to the end of the pleasant valley 
we had travelled in for some time, and ascended a 
steep hill, which obliged our oxen to make great 
exertions, and we found the descent nearly as trouble- 
some ; however, we got safely along, though the night 
was the darkest we had experienced on our journey. 
A monkey near us seemed very angry from his cries, 
but we could not see him. Some oxen were driven 
past us, which gave us uneasiness lest some of oui* 
loose ones had gone with them. It was long before 
we could satisfy ourselves as to this point, though the 
number of our spare oxen was only twelve. At ten, 
P.M. we were obliged to halt from the darkness of the 
night. Our oxen were hardly out of the yoke when 
the clouds poured down rain very plentifully, w^hich 
continued until morning. 
20th. In the morning every thing around looked 
lively and refreshed by the rain. — At five, A.M. we 
proceeded on our journey. Two stupendous moun- 
tains were on our left, whose tops reached the clouds, 
and formed part of the great chain. At nine, A.M. 
we crossed the Vat river, and halted during the day 
on its opposite banks. We applied to a neighbouring 
boor to sell us some provisions, but he had none to 
spare; however, after coming to our waggons, and 
conversing with us a little, he found he could spare us 
