184 
AFRICAN HUNTING. 
no access but up a gorge, between two stony moun¬ 
tains ; a dry watercourse, which, in any other coun¬ 
try, would be a roaring torrent. Sicomo was hunting, 
and we did not see him. Though there are several 
thousand Kaffirs living on the berg, a stranger 
passing through the country would think it unin¬ 
habited, but in the evenings and early mornings, on 
going to and from their work in the gardens, the 
whole pass is one continued line of people, and con¬ 
stant hum of voices. Traded a lot of feathers, two 
karosses, and about forty pounds of ivory; the 
Kaffirs much more civil than I expected to find 
them. 
Mi. — Parted company with Medcalfe, and treked 
away, he remaining behind. Though our course lies 
directly forward, it will take us about two days to 
round the precipitous rocky mountain. Outspanned 
at sunset, and got water in a dry watercourse, after 
scraping about three feet deep: cool and delicious, 
as we have had two burning days, with hot winds, 
which completely prostrated me. We had, however, 
lots of Kaffir beer, which is a little acid, and very 
refreshing. Stayed behind the wagons, to try and ex¬ 
change Jack for another horse, and, though I risked 
my neck in galloping him among the stones, as he is 
almost blind, I could not swap. 
8th .—Although I walked ahead of the wagons all 
day I saw nothing. Swartz wounded a quagga, and 
a few minutes after the shot I heard the dogs had 
something at bay, and on running a few hundred 
