AFRICA. 313 
in the mean time took an obfervatlon of the 
fun's altitude, by which I found the latitude 
to be 27* 5'. After this we inclined to the 
weft, to reach Lion-River ; where we arrived 
in three hours and a half. 
Before I quitted my camp on Orange-River, 
I had remarked, that the floods were higher 
and more frequent than they had been on my 
arrival. Sometimes the water rofe fix feet, 
and remained in that Itate feveral days. This 
announced, that the rainy feafon had begun 
in the mountains to the north-eaft, where this 
river, as well as almoft all thofe on the weft, 
take their rife. 
As the. fame caufe muft produce the fame 
efFe£t on Lion-River, I had reafon to fear, that 
I fhould find it troublefome to pafs, if I waited 
much longer. It had already more water than 
when I crofted it before. Defirous, therefore, 
of leaving it behind me, I went and encamped 
on its right bank : after which we proceeded 
along its courfe for three days, flopping only 
to encamp at night, and in the day to give 
chace to a few giraffes, which we faw occa- 
fionally, but which always out ft ripped us and 
efcaped. ^ 
Oil 
