72 
JOURNEY TO BETHELSDORP. [1813. 
fallen several hundred feet of perpendicular height. 
The descent continued for about half a mile, when 
we crossed a river about two hundred yards above its 
entrance into the sea. It was not deep, as the tide 
was down, but it was troublesome from the many large 
stones that covered the bottom. When I viewed the 
chff we had to chmb on the other side, I trembled for 
the poor oxen ; however up they went, and after many 
a lash, and many a fall, and the loss of some blood, 
they dragged all safe to the summit, where we had 
great reason to thank our kind friends for the service 
they had done us. 
After halting about two hours io the vicinity of a 
brook, we proceeded on our journey. At three, P.M. 
we came to a cliff somewhat like the former, but not 
quite so bad, which, after consuming much time, we 
also surmounted. A little after sunset we halted near 
a wood, which our Hottentots told us was infested by 
elephants, none of whom, however, were seen or heard 
by any of us. 
10th. At six in the morning we were again in motion, 
and in a few^ minutes entered the wood, across which 
our road lay. The wood had a most venerable ap- 
pearance, from the extraordinary loftiness and great 
thickness of the trees, many of which must have 
flourished in the ages of antiquity. A thousand trees 
taken from this extensive forest could scarcely be 
missed, yet could they be transported to London, they 
