might find a passage under their beds, without keeping them from
their sleep, as it had done the night before.
While confined to the waggon by the weather, I employed the
time in arranging some zoological lists, to assist my researches on
the animals that were likely to be met with in this part of Africa.
CHAPTER XII.
JOURNEY THROUGH THE ROGGEVELD. TO THE BORDERS OF THE eOLONY,
A u g u s t 6 th . The day was occasionally showery, and extremely
cold. * The boors came again with their oxen, and at noon we
commenced the ascent of the mountain. The road was exceedingly
steep, winding in different directions to avoid the deep ravines; but
was less rocky than the other kloofs of the colony which I had passed,
although the rain had now rendered it slippery and dangerous.
At one spot towards the top of the mountain, where the acclivity
was greatest, the oxen slid from side to side, unable to keep on their
feet; and the great weight of the waggon began to drag them backwards,
in spite of their utmost exertions. The two boors, who were
driving, were in the greatest anxiety and alarm, not only for the
fate of the waggons, but also for the safety of their own cattle.
Witnessing their perilous situation from below, I scrambled hastily
out of the road, to save myself among the rocks, expecting to behold
every thing hurried headlong down the steep, and for some moments
# The thermometer being only 38° (+ S'SS Cent.)