SEPT.] CONTINENT OF AFRICA, 40^i 
known among the natives of this region, as all access 
to it is so extremely difficult. How these deep cliffs 
or excavati<His in solid rock (of a reddish hue), as hard 
as flint, through vvhich the various blanches of th^ 
river runs, have been formed, 1 cannot conjecture, 
unless by some most awfu*! convulsion. It seems 
surprising that such a wonderful work of God should 
lie concealed from the inspection of mankind, in the 
bosom of wild Africa. We saw many serpents but 
received no injury; indeed the chief danger arises from 
treading on them unawares among the long grass^ 
when they will instantly turn upon you and bite^ 
otherwise they will generally endeavour to esca|)e 
from you. 
It is very common among the Hottentots to catch 
a serpent, squeeze out the poison from under his 
teeth, and drink it. They say it only makes them a 
Utde giddy, and imagine that it preserves them after- 
wards from receiving any injury from the sting of that 
reptile. I have no doubt, from the testimony of the 
Hottentots who travelled with me, of the fact that 
they do take it, but w hether it be calculated to produce 
the effect which the Hottentots pretend, I leave to tha 
decision of medical men. 
At five P.M. the air becoming more cool, we left 
our halting place, and on our way passed two hill^ 
each of which was composed of a single rock, without 
grass or bush on any part of them. 1 hey had exactly 
the appearance of immense masses of iron, and though 
3 F 
