FIRST JOURNEY. 
9 
Gordon's Bay are lakes of frefli water, and plenty of wood. oaobeV 
All thefe bays open to the north-weft, and ftrike fouth inland. ' — 
About two, in the afternoon, we paffed Cape Falfe ; to the 
fouth-eaft of which is a large plain, covered with many dif- 
ferent fpecies of grafs ; but all of them bad for cattle. Here 
I found a fpecies of Erica, which was quite new, with a fpike 
of long tubelar yellow flowers, the moft beautiful I had ever 
feen. There are fome wild buffaloes^^ about this place, of which 
* Mr, Pennant's defcrlption of this animal is as follows : " The face is covered with long 
tiarfh black hair. Chin, underfide of the neck, and dewlap, covered with long, pendulous, and 
coarfe hairs of the fame colour. From the horns, along the top of the neck., to the middle of 
the back, is a very thin black mane. Body covered with fhort, dark, cinerous hair : bafe of the 
tail almoft naked and cinerous, the reil full of long black hair. Skin thick and tough. Length 
from nofe to tail, of one not of the largeft fize, is eight feet : the height five and a half. Depth 
of the body three feet : length of the head one foot nine : of the trunk of the tail one foot nine : 
to the end of the hairs, two feet nine. Body and limbs thick and flrong. They inhabit the 
interior parts of Africa, north of the Cape of Good Hope ; but, I believe, do not extend to the 
north of the Tropic. They are faid to be greatly fuperlor in fize to the largeft Englifli ox : 
hang their heads down, and have a moft fierce and malevolent appearance. Are exceffively fierce 
and dangerous to travellers. Will lie quietly in wait in the woods, and rufh fuddenly on paf- 
fengers, and trample them, their horfes, and oxen of draught, under their feet : fo that they are 
to be ftiunned as the moft cruel beafts of this country. They will even recirn to the attack, and 
delight to lick the flaughtered bodies. They are prodigiouily fwift, and fo Hrong, that a yoking 
one of three years of age, being placed vvith fix tame oxen in a waggon, could not by tlieir 
united force be moved from the fpot. They are alfo found in the interior parts of Guinea ; but 
are fo fierce and dangerous, that the negroes who are in chace of other animals are fearful of 
fhooting at them. The lion, which can break the back of the ftrongeft domeftic oxen at one 
blow, cannot kill this fpecies, except by leaping on its back, and fufi*ocating it, by fixing its talons 
about its nofe and mouth. The lion often pefifhes hi the attempt ; but leaves the marks of its 
fury about the mouth and nofe of the beaft. It loves much to roll in the mud, and is fond of 
the water. The flelh is coarfe., but juicy, and has the flavour of venifon. They live in great 
lierds, efpecially in Krake-Kanima, and other deferts of the Cape ; and retire during day into 
the thick forefts. Are reckoned good mep.t. They are called by the Dutch of the Cape, 
Aurochs. 
Another fpecies of Aurochs is briefly dcfcribcd by the Dutch travellers j who fay it is like 
the .Ciir,m;n ox, but larger, and of a grey color ; that its head is /mall, and horns Oiort ; that 
• C tll3 
