262 
REED RIVER. 
9—11 Aug. 
rather that they were, it seems, surprised and disappointed at 
meeting with any one there, I could not suffer my hand to pull the 
trigger. On calling out again in a louder tone, they instantly 
scrambled away with the greatest precipitation, tumbling over the 
yokes which lay spread out on the ground. Having got clear off, I 
heard them at a distance, talking to the rest of their gang, explaining, 
most probably, the little chance there was of their expected booty, 
and rejoicing at their own escape. Of what nation these robbers 
were, or their number, we never could discover ; but had they been 
less timid, I might have been overpowered and plundered of every 
thing ; for the Hottentots, who were but a few yards off, were all so 
sound asleep that they heard nothing of the noise, nor were they 
aware of the occurrence till it was mentioned the next morning. It 
was henceforward made a standing order that none of them should 
come to the waggon at night, without first giving notice by calling 
out their name. 
10th. The weather this day was remarkably pleasant, and ren- 
dered a stroll along the river exceedingly delightful. The scenery 
possessed, in some points, a character that had not been noticed 
before. The rushes, which in many places thickly hedged in the 
sides of the ponds, exhibited a species of the picturesque quite new 
and peculiar. No trace of man or his works disturbed the more 
pleasing harmony of Nature. All that was beheld here, was the 
uncontrolled effect of natural causes. 
The Bonteberg (Spotted Hill,) seen at a little distance, is re- 
markable for several large red spots, irregularly disposed upon its 
side. The bed of the river is not sunk very deep below the surface 
and consequently its waters must occasionally overflow the sur- 
rounding flats, to a considerable extent, of which there was evident 
proofs. The pools, or ponds, met with at frequent intervals along 
the bed, being never quite dried up, contain fish, as I was informed 
by the Hottentots, of the sort mentioned on the 31st of August* 
The water was quite clear and fresh. 
* See the representation of it, at the end of Chapter XII. 
