414 A JOURNEY IN 
santly situated among groves of the umbrella-like mimosa. 
On every side was abundance of large game, as pallaSy 
springboks, and ostriches whose eggs occasionally supplied 
them with an agreeable repast. On the 17th they arrived at 
the large village of Patanie, the residence of the Booshuana 
chief Serakootie, brother of Moolihahan. Having approached 
too near the town before they perceived that the waggons 
were passing over garden grounds and fields planted with 
corn, which ^vas at this time a considerable height above the 
surftice, they turned back and pitched their tents on the bank 
of the river. Serakootie presently came down to welcome 
their arrival ; but while he endeavoured to express the pleasure 
he felt on the occasion, he could not forbear remarking that 
their having first advanced to the town and then retired to 
encamp at a distance from it seemed to betray a suspicion on 
their part, which was by no means favourable to the good 
opinion and confidence which he had hoped his brother's 
conduct would have inspired towards him. Their motive, 
however, was soon explained to his perfect satisfaction. 
He introduced the party to his family, which consisted of 
four Avives and five children, loaded them with ciA^lities 
during their stay, suppl3dng the whole expedition with as 
much milk as it could make use of. The village was plea- 
santly situated on the rising banks of the Kourmanna river, 
which they now discovered to be a branch of the Gariep or 
Orange river. It consisted of about fifty houses, of the same 
kind, but not quite so well built, as those of Leefakoo. 
A remarkable change of temperature took place during one 
of the days the party remained at this villag-e. At three 
