JULY.] JOURNEY BEYOND THE GREAT RIVER. 32$ 
of the most charming countries we had seen in Africa 
came all at once into view. The hills were beautifully 
ornamented with trees to their very tops, and the 
valleys resembled the finest parks in England, but what 
essentially contributed to add lustre to the scene, in 
the estimation of thirsty travellers, was the windings of 
the Malalareen river in the front of the hills. There 
was likewise the appearance of distant forests. The 
long withered grass among tufts of trees rendered the 
descent from the hill extremely pleasant. We looked 
at each other as if we had got into a new world ; it 
was so different from the country we had left on the 
other side of the hill. At nine A.M. we approached 
a Bushman Kraal, consisting of a few huts. The 
Bushmen supposing we were enemies approaching to 
attack them, hastily turned out, and drew up in battle 
array. The chief, brandished his bow, and jumped 
into the air, endeavouring to intimidate us. Our men^ 
who were in front, made signs that we came as friends, 
and on a nearer approach they so far convinced them 
of it that they laid aside their bows and poisoned 
arrows; but their women concealed themselves in 
their huts. 
After conversing a little with the chief, whose name 
is Makoon, I stepped aside to his hut, and stooping 
down, looked into it, but the terror depicted in the 
countenances of his two wives when they saw me, 
I shall not soon forget ; had it been a lion or tyger 
they could not have expressed greater alarm. With 
a view to conciliate, I took out my watch, opened it, 
