JOURNEY II. 287 
habited thofe rivers. The pit was very deep, and fteep 
on all tides, which made my companion’s fate uncertain 
for a few minutes ; but, after feveral ftrong exertions, the 
horfe gained the oppofite tide with his rider. 
1 2th, To Gaffer Kuyl’s Rivier. Upon our left hand, a 
tew miles diitant, we had the chain of mountains before 
mentioned, which here take a N.E. direction. Their 
fummits terminate in a number of lofty, rugged pieces, 
which have an admirable effefh Between this chain of 
mountains and the fea on the S<E. lies an extentive coun- 
try, to appearance low; but when one travels acrofs it, it 
prefents a continued feries of hills and dales. The hills 
are quite fmooth and eafy of afcent, and covered with long 
coarfe grafs, which cattle feldom eat. On the declivities 
ot thefe low hills grows the aloe Socotorina in large 
clumps, which when old have Rems about five or fix 
feet high, with only a few thick leaves on their tops, that 
at a diftance appear like bands of Hottentots. The pea- 
fants make great quantities of the gum aloes from the 
fap of the leaves, which they fell at the Cape from two 
to fix pence per pound. There is a fine fpecies of an- 
telope, which inhabits only here, called by the peafants 
Bonte Bock; fomething larger than a fallow deer, very 
fhy, but not very fwift. 
1 5 th, To Goud’s Rivier; which at that time was about 
100 yards broad, and the w T ater came up to the feat of 
our faddles. On each fide of this river lies an extraordi- 
nary track of land, which in the Hottentot language is 
called Carro. It is a dry, burning foil, of a reddifh colour, 
intermixed 
