VISIT TO SOUTH AFRICA. 21? 
of the valley, we rode towards the right and left boundaries, to 
examine the nature of the soil, or the course of the river, or to 
ascend some eminence, affording a better view of the different situa- 
tions beneath. About the middle of the tale, our attention being at- 
tracted by the appearance of a high red rock, we turned towards it, 
and found it rising perpendicularly beyond a large sheet of water. 
Between it and another rock on the opposite bank, a woody glen 
descended, probably containing some stream, contributing towards 
the formation of the lake or pond. Both in and out of the wood, 
we had discovered abundant traces of elephants, both by their foot- 
marks, their sleeping-places, their dung, and by several thorn-bushes, 
torn up by the roots and placed on their crowns, that these creatures 
might eat both the leaves and the more tender roots, of which they 
are said to be particularly fond. We now found the whole field 
near the pond covered with their dung, wLich shows that they fre- 
quently resort to this place, for water. In the day-time, they gene- 
rally hide themselves in the large woods and kloofs, but at night, de- 
scend to quench their thirst. Leaving the pond, w^e crossed a stony 
eminence and descended into the glen, where the Caffres in 1797 
had their chief encampment. 
This glen intersects the main valley. To the left, it forms a pas- 
sage towards the high mountains, which are entirely covered with 
forest-trees, and to the right, divides a lower range of hills. They 
here assume singular forms. Mr. Scheper justly compared one of 
them to a fortification; semicircular caverns appearing in rows, 
much like some of the works, seen in antient strong-holds. To- 
wards the end of the valle}^ the mountains, to the left, are higher 
and more imposing, and their numberless kloofs, filled with wood, 
give them a peculiar character. After again several times crossing 
the bed of the river, we entered upon the premises belonging to 
our guide, Mr. Scheper junior. The farm lies in a most romantic 
situation, at the bottom of an amphitheatre of lofty hills. 
It would be tedious to attempt to particularize all the various 
beautiful objects surrounding this place, but we all agreed, that 
