322 
CROSSING THE GARIEP. 
17SEPT. 1811. 
the train of waggons, each with a steady leader at the head of the 
team, to restrain the oxen from turning down with the current, 
which they are very inclined to do, when left to themselves. As 
one waggon plunged into the stream, another descended headlong 
down the steep bank, closely followed by another ; and as these 
moved on, others in their turn advanced from the rear, till the line, 
stretching entirely across the river, seemed like a bridge of waggons. 
The train at first took a very oblique direction downwards, till they 
had reached the middle of the river, and from that point, proceeded 
directly across to the opposite side. The bottom was found to be 
full of large pebbles, and the greatest depth no more than two feet 
and eight inches ; but the current was therefore very rapid and 
strong. The water was quite transparent, a proof that no heavy rains 
had lately fallen in the upper part of its course. At the ford the 
surface was smooth ; but lower down, and in sight, it was broken by 
a fall of about two feet. Each waggon took a quarter of an hour 
to perform the passage, which might be estimated at a little 
more than a quarter of a mile. The oxen were driven through 
by about a dozen Hottentots ; and as many were required to swim 
the sheep and goats over in safety. 
