324 
TRANSGARIEPINE. — GROVE OF ACACIAS. 
17 Sept. 
We had now entered upon a new region, as the northern side 
of the Great River may justly be considered. The traveller may 
here remark a difference of character in the appearance and nature 
of the country, and some features peculiar to it ; which will be 
noticed in the course of the journal. The river being impassable to 
many animals, is a zoological line, marking the southern-most range 
of some, and the northern-most of others. It is also a botanical 
limit, in a multitude of instances ; and the words cisgariepine and 
transgariepine are not mere verbal distinctions. 
The Acacia groves were very extensive ; and as I was wandering 
through the maze of stems, admiring the light airy foliage, and listen- 
ing to the notes of several birds which I had never heard before, I 
unexpectedly came upon a Hottentot Kraal consisting of about half 
a dozen round mat-huts. A few of its inhabitants were moving 
about ; some putting together the frame work of a hut ; some milk- 
ing the cows ; and others, either sauntering in careless ease, or 
reclining within their humble abodes. One, advancing towards me, ^ 
wrapped round with a large sheep-skin kaross, the corner of which 
dragged behind on the ground, saluted me with " Dag Mynheer ;" 
and perceiving by this, that he spoke Dutch, I enquired some par- 
ticulars respecting the kraal. From him I learnt that it was a 
detachment of the Klaarwater Hottentots, belonging to a village called 
the " Kloof and who had removed hither with their cattle, for the 
sake of the herbage, which the banks of the river afford at this 
season, when, in every other spot, all pasturage is parched up 
by the summer heat. Some of the huts were empty, their owners 
being not yet come home with their flock ; in others were women 
and children squatted on the ground, amidst bundles of dirty sheep- 
skins ; some of whom were twisting cord from Acacia bark, or 
making rush-mats. Their mode of putting the latter together, 
differed in no particular from that already described at page 114. 
The minute leaves of these acacias admitted as much sun 
through them, as they threw shadow ; and, although the situation 
was deep in the grove, there was a lightness of colouring in the 
scene, as beautiful as it was remarkable ; and the ground, undulated 
