MARCH.] JOURNEY TO BETHELSDORP. 
73 
would probably produce for the proprietor twenty or 
thirty thousand pounds, but they are of trifling value 
here, for the value of any article of course depends 
upon the situation where it is. We continued for 
some time admiring the immense size of this and that 
tree ; but a prospect was soon presented, which com- 
pletely diverted our attention from such objects of 
curiosity. It was a long, rocky, and steep ascent. 
The first waggon, though twenty-six oxen were yoked 
to it, was two hours before it reached the summit and 
the second, with the same oxen, was three hours. 
The bustle, and anxiety of our minds during these 
iive hours can only be conceived of by those who have 
been placed in similar circumstances. The last waggon 
was about two hours in moving forty yards, the oxen 
sometimes faUing, ineffectually drawing, getting into 
disorder, or resting, Could the long string of oxen 
be got to pull exactly at the same time, such difficul- 
ties would be more easily surmounted; but perhaps 
while some of the foremost are pulling, others behind 
are standing with their heads where their tails should 
be, and while getting these to wheel about, the front 
ones get into disorder ; and though twenty draw 
together, get if the two nearest the waggon, do not 
act their part properly, the labour of the others 
must be useless. I enter into these particulars to 
assist friends at home in forming a just conception of 
travelling by oxen. While these things were going 
forward, Mr. Bartlet and I were busily employed in 
repairmg as much of the road as we could, levelling 
rocks and filling up holes : we completely repaired 
