MARCH.] JOURNEY TO BETHELSDORP. 
71 
which was within an hour of retiring, so gilded about 
half of what we beheld, as to throw an additional 
splendor on the scene. The river was evidently 
swelled by the late rains; it was deep and rapid in its 
course. We returned before sunset much gratified by 
our excursion. 
At the side of my bed at night, hung the carcase of 
a fat sheep that had been killed in the day. When a 
man has made up his mind to take every thing as it 
comes, such extraordinaries will make but a trifling 
impression — though I never before was placed for a 
night so near a carcase that was to be eaten ; however 
this occurrence scarcely occupied my thoughts for five 
minutes. 
We all rose in the morning by break of day in the 
hope of recommencing our journey. Mr. Standard 
yoked thirty- two excellent oxen to our two waggons, 
and happily we got once more in motion : after travel- 
ling about four miles we reached the cliffs that had en- 
grossed a great part of our conversation for several 
days past. I confessed they exceeded what I had 
previously conceived. At one place I observed a step 
in the rock, which crossed the road, and must have 
been two feet and a half in perpendicular height ; there 
was also a quick, dangerous turn in the descent where 
the rock was as smooth as glass. Here one of our 
waggons took a swing, and was within half a foot of 
being over the edge of the path, when it must have 
