242 
TRAVELS IN 
and ill-treated in the fervice of the farmers, he faid that they 
confidered themfelves driven to defperation. The burden of 
their fong was vengeance againft the Dutch. This little man 
was intended to have accompanied us ; but as he feemed more 
inclined to abide by his wives, he was permitted to follow his 
uxorious inclinations. 
Proceeding to the northward, a curious but truly deplorable 
fpedlacle prefented itfelf. It was a troop of locufts refting 
upon the ground. They covered a fpace of about one fquare 
mile in extent, fo completely that the furface appeared to the 
eye, at a little diftance, to have been burnt and ftrewed over 
with brown afhes. Not a fhrub nor blade of grafs was vifible. 
The waggons pafTed directly through them, before which they 
rofe up in a cloud that darkened the air on each fide. Defirous 
of feeing the whole troop on the wing, the Hottentots ran 
araongft them, and the horfes were made to gallop through 
them, but without fuccefs ; none but fuch as were immediately 
under the feet of the men and horfes rofe up. The peafantry 
affirm that they are not to be driven away unlefs the fignal for 
departure fhould be given from their commander in chief, one 
of which is fuppofed to accompany every troop* 
On the evening of the 23d, we encamped at the foot of a 
large mountain, remarkable for its pointed peak, and alfo from 
its detached fituation. It was feparated from all the circumja- 
cent mountains, on four fides, by as many large level meadows 
abundant in fprings of water. It forms one of the higheft 
points of South Africa. The waters flow from the furround- 
ing 
