CONTINENT OF AFRICA. 
371 
On the banks of the river near our waggons were 
two reed houses pretty well made, and several spots 
of ground planted with tobacco, one of the old stalks 
of which measured eight feet, the property of some 
bastard Bushmen who reside here while it grows, to 
guard it till it comes to perfection. 
The river divides, immediately opposite where we 
halted, into three streams, occasioned by two islands, 
but after passing the islands they reunite. It is con- 
sidered a good place for crossing. 
19th. Several of our people went off early this 
morning in search of the cattle lost two days ago, and 
of others which had strayed since that time. The 
scarcity of grass at this season, being immediately 
after winter, disposes the cattle to move farther and 
farther off in the hope of finding more. 
After breakfast I took a solitary walk for about 
mile higher up, in the bed of the river, on pur- 
pose to make sketches of some parts which, viewed 
from a distance, appeared interesting. I ascended 
to the top of a high rock nearly in the middle 
of the bed of the river, which here is more than 
a quarter of a mile broad, lined with high banks 
covered with trees, so that none of the country can be 
seen beyond them, except looking either up or down 
the river, which renders the scene retired and romantic. 
On taking out my paper and pencil, I was struck, as 
I imagined, with the noise of men driving cattle, 
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