JOURNEY III, 305 
it does not belong to the fame clafs of animals, but is 
intirely new. It feeds upon the roots of ixia, gladioli , 
■antholyza, and irides, often grows to the fizeof a rabbit, 
and by fome is efteemed good eating. There is another 
fpecies of the animal, called by the Dutch Bles-moll, 
which inhabits the hard ground ; but feldom exceeds the 
hze of the common European mole. This country is fur- 
nifhed with a great variety of elegant fhrubs ; viz. eni/i<r, 
partia , and afpalathi . At night we came to Lange Valley, 
where we took up our lodging in a defolate place, the 
inhabitants being all removed; for this is only their 
winter refidence, when the water is frefh, which had 
now began to be brackifh. 
24th, We fet out early in the morning, expe&ing to 
find a river or fountain, where we could reft during the 
heat of the day ; but, to our no fmall difappointment, 
^ ^ tiavelled till noon without finding any: our oxen 
were fo hot that their tongues hung out of their mouths. 
About one o’clock we faw a lake of water at fome diftance, 
but on our arrival our horfes refufed to drink: we dif- * 
mounted, and found it to be a fait lake. In the evening we 
came to a fountain of excellent water, where we fpent 
the night with great comfort. Next morning we were 
vifited by a peafant going to the Cape; who told us, he 
had been attacked in the night by a lion, which made a 
fpring at his Hottentot who led the oxen, but happily 
miffed him. He admonifhed us to be expeditious, and 
get to fome habitation that night, otherwife we might 
expedt a vifit from him. 
Vol. LXVI. R r rth 
