28 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
./777' rocious animals. About midnig:ht we came to a lake of brackifli 
November. " ^ ^ 
^^i^^ water, where we agreed to remain till morning. We fecured 
our cattle in the ufual manner of the country, by tying them 
round the waggon, and making fires on the outlide all round 
us, to prevent an attack from the wild beafts. This bufinefs 
was no fooner performed, and our little caravan left to the 
enjoyment of fafety, than we were furprifed by a noife of 
fplafliing in the water, as if fomething were coming towards 
us. Captain Gordon fuppofed it to announce the approach of 
wild beafts ; and indeed we had nothing elfe to expe£t, as this 
country abounds with them, and particularly with lions. After 
fome time palTed in great anxiety, we at length found the 
noife proceeded from a calf which had ftrayed from a herd of 
cattle belonging to an European who lived about eight miles 
diftant from tliis place. Being now relieved from our fears, 
we endeavoured to get fome reft ; but pafTed the remainder of 
the night very dlfagreeably, from a heavy ftorm of thunder 
and lightning, which was attended witli much rain- 
Early in the morning we proceeded on our journey through 
an extenfive plain, called the Beer"' Valley ; and about nine in 
the morning we came to fome miferable huts in the ftile of 
the Hottentots. Here we found an old German, who had at- 
tached himfelf to one of the Hottentot tribes, and had refided 
with them for about twenty years. His garment was compofed 
of ftieeps Ikins, fimilar to thofe which are worn by the na- 
tives ; and his method of living was the fame. This man 
» Bear, 
