JOURNAL OF A 
dom come from the mountains to steal peaches, or other fruit. 
The ringing of bells, cracking of whips, and firing of guns, often 
repeated, will at length drive them away, though they may, for a 
time, dispute possession. 
When we left this beautiful spot, Mr. Scheper accompanied 
us for several miles. Our road to Kourney lay over a steep, stony 
hill, thickly covered with almost impenetrable bushes, at the 
top of which, during the war, the Caffres placed a huge beam, 
at each end fastened with thongs to the trees, hoping thus to pre- 
vent the boors and soldiers in the valley from following them, 
to recover cattle, or to attack them. From this circumstance, 
the place has acquired the name ofSlagboom, or (turnpike-bar). 
In riding up the hill, Mr. Scheper pointed out the plant, from 
which the Bosjesmans extract poison for their darts. 
CHAPTER XIII. 
Arnival^at Kourney. A cow devoured hy a wolf. Sand Vlachte. 
Night's encampment on the Zuurberg. Celebration of Good-Fri- 
day. Bwning Kraal. Forsaken post at Commadocha. Hospi- 
tality of the officers at a military station. Arrival at the Great 
Fish River. Peep into Caffraria. Proceed to Somerset. Dr. 
Mackrill. The Boschberg. Easter-Sunday. Survey of Mr. P's 
farm. 
For some miles we passed through detached woods, then gained 
an open, uninteresting country, over which, after bidding farewell 
to our friendly guide, we pushed on, as fast as our weary and hungry 
horses could carry us, till after sunset, when we reached Kourney, 
and were joyfully welcomed by the rest of our company, who had 
safely arrived with the waggons. They had been very civilly re- 
