'200 
JOURNEY ACROSS THE 
[1813. 
We halted a little before sun-set. As soon as it 
was dark, a fire was made on the top of a neighbour- 
ing hill, as a signal to inform our Bushman where we 
were, should he be desirous of returning. We ob- 
served some signs of Bushmen having been here 
lately, by their foot-marks, a little platted hair, and 
a piece of stick newly peeled. As we had not seen a 
living soul since the first day we entered the country, 
we all narrowly inspected these indications of inhabit- 
ants, and formed various conjectures. None of us 
doubted that the Bushmen were watching our motions 
from the neighbouring mountains, with the view of 
attacking us, should a favourable opportunity offer 
itself. The river, as far as we observed it, runs in a 
N.W. direction. 
27th. During the night our sheep fled from our 
waggons with great precipitation, and though all our 
people went in pursuit of them, it was long before 
they were found. Their fright and flight were proba- 
bly owing to the appearance of a lion or wolf. We 
departed about sun-rise, but in less than an hour were 
obliged, on account of the rain, to halt, as the oxen 
cannot travel in it, their shoulders being soon galled 
by the yoke. Had we been in CafFraria, we should 
have been most exposed to an attack during rain, 
because the CafFres know that wet and damp weather 
affects powder, but does no injury to their assagays or 
spears ; but in such weather Bushmen can do nothing, 
as their bow-strings are made of the entrails of animals^ 
