The country from the Roggeveld Mountain to the northern
border of the colony, may be characterised as a high plain, free
from large mountains, but thipkly strewed over with moderate hills
and elevations; having very few rivers, and all of these nearly dried
up in the summer; quite destitute of trees and grass, but every
where covered with bushes springing out of a naked red soil deprived
of moisture during a great part of the. year. These bushes
are not more than a foot or two in height, excepting various kinds
of Lycium, and almost exclusively belong to the Natural Order of
Composite Jlowers, or the class Syngenesia of Linnaeus. One general
cast of features, not peculiar, however, to this district, pervades all
these vegetables; a minute and arid foliage. Yet on these all the
cattle browse, and such wild animals as are herbivorous.
Of game there was but little to be found at this season: neither
did we see a single human being, more than those who have been
mentioned. Notwithstanding characteristics so apparently unpromising,
this district produces some of the best sheep and horses in
the colony; and the boors would readily spread themselves farther
into the interior, on land of the same nature, if not wisely (for the
present, at least,) checked by the regulations of Government. If the
occupation of new territory were permitted in the same unrestrained
and extensive manner as formerly, it would not be long before the
colonists had reached the Gariep ; as much of the intermediate land
must, from want of water, necessarily be deemed useless.
CHAPTER XIII.
JODRNEY FROM THE BORDERS OF THE CAPE COLONY, THROOOH THE COUNTRY
OF THE BUSHMEN, TO THE RIVER GARIEP.
S e p t e m b e r i t h . Bidding farewell to the Colony, we departed in
the afternoon, and entered upon our journey through the country of
the Bushmen. While the caravan was crossing the Sack river, which
occupied some time, I made two sketches, as a memorial of a spot
always interesting to my recollection, from being the place where,
for the first time, I quitted the jurisdiction and protection of regular
laws, and committed myself to the hostility, or the hospitality, of
savage tribes. My notions of human nature were not su harsh as to
forbid me expecting virtues among savages; and I looked forward
with pleasure and increasing eagerness to that part of my journey
which was hereafter to follow.
We did not advance this day more than ten miles into the
country, but halted for the night in the plain at Kopjes Fontein,