98 
TRAVELS IN 
as on that element, the mind was as little diftrafted by a multi- 
plicity of objeds ; for in vain did the eye wander in fearch of 
tree, or lofty fhrub, or blade of grafs, or living creature. On 
every fide a wide fpreading plain, barren as its fouthern bound- 
ary the Black Mountains, prefented nothing but a dreary wafte, 
" a land of defolation." On approaching the river Ghamka 
the face of the country changed a little for the better. Large 
mimofas fkirted its banks, among which were alfo mingled a 
fpecies of willow with a narrOw ferrated leaf, a rhus^ and the 
lyceum afrum. A confiderable ftream of water rolled over the 
bed of the river. Here we met with hares, partridges, moun- 
tain geefe, and wild ducks of two kinds, in great abundance. 
The blue fchiftus broke out on the banks of the river, and ftill 
continued to run diredly eaft and weft in parallel ridges. 
That part of the Lion's river where we were encamped was 
diftant only about twelve miles from a chafm or kloof in the 
Zwarteberg, in the very mouth of which was faid to be a 
farm-houfe, and feveral others behind the mountains. As 
thefe houfes all belonged to the diftrid of Graaff Reynet, the 
landroft was not without hopes of procuring the loan of frefh 
teams of bullocks. Many of our own had already died, others 
were left on the defert, and the reft were quite exhaufted by 
the effeds of the cold, of bad water, and little food. We 
therefore quitted the dired road, and turned off towards 
Zwarteberg. A few miles before we arrived at the kloof, a 
party of men, mounted on horfeback, were obferved to be 
making for the waggons in full gallop. In coming up with 
the firft, they ftopt fhort and fired a difcharge of mufquetry. 
They 
