6 
JOURNEY FROM 
[1820. 
ticing our uncomfortable situation, came and 
said, that as our unbroken oxen were of the 
colour they wanted to make up a span (or set) 
they would give us some tractable ones in ex- 
change, if we were not particular about the colour 
of them. As this was a point of no importance 
in our estimation we thankfully acceded to their 
offer, and were thus enabled to go forward with 
ease and safety. At eight a.m. we halted at a 
pool of brackish water. Thermometer at noon 
this day 82. 
We travelled by Stellenbosh, Paarl, and Tul- 
bach, till the 28th, when we arrived at the mouth 
of the Hex-river Kloof, after which the road 
was entirely new to me and to the people, as far 
as the Great Orange River. We dined with Mr. 
Jacobus De Toit, a very respectable farmer, from 
whom we received various necessaries for the 
journey. At six in the evening we proceeded up 
the Kloof, which is a long serpentine defile, or 
narrow pass, between high and steep mountains. 
The scenery was extremely grand and interest- 
ing, being marked by stupendous cliffs, rugged 
rocks, and spiral-topt mountains of great eleva- 
tion. Their bases were covered with mimosa 
trees, the flowers of which appeared like innu- 
merable golden balls suspended from the branches. 
The Hex River, with rumbling noise, was 
heard forcing its way along the jungle, and what 
