SOUTHERN AFRICA. 59 
to mofl of the corn-lands in the vicinity of the Cape, Here 
too a fcarciry is obfervable of the moft ordinary game of the 
country, fuch as fmall antelopes, hares, partridges, and the fe- 
veral fpecies of buftards. 
From this place it was our intention to crofs the iirfl: chain of 
mountains which runs parallel, or nearly fo, with the fea-coaft. 
Previous, however, to this undertaking, it was found necefiary, 
in conformity to the inftrudions I had received, to take into 
cuftody, and to fend up to the Cape, a certain boor who was 
known to have held communication with the rebels of Graaff 
Reynet ; and ftrongly fufpeded of having affifted them with 
gunpowder. By efcorting this perfon to the Landroft of the 
diftrid, two fine young men of the 8th Light Dragoons un- 
fortunately loft their lives. On their return towards the drofdy 
a violent thunder-ftorm arofe, during which the rain defcended 
in fuch torrents as to fill, to the brim, a fmall rivulet that we had 
paffed the day before without obferving a fingle drop of water 
in its channel. The Hottentot, who led the foremoft pair of 
oxen in the team, finding himfelf unable to withftand the ra- 
pidity of the current, let go the rope and effeded his efcape as 
well as he could. The oxen, being thus left without a guide, 
turned their heads in the diredion of the ftream. The waggon 
was upfet ; two of the young men, who unfortunately could 
not fwim, were feen no more ; and Captain Smyth, with the 
reft, had a very narrow efcape. 
Accidents, of a fimilar kind, are not unfrequent in the colony. 
The beds of all the rivers are funk, in a remarkable manner, to a 
12 very 
