and began to assume a redder hue, which was particularly remarkable
in a low, sandy mound close by the water. *
Here, in the dead of the night, I heard the soft warbling of
some bird, whose wild notes afforded me the greater delight, and
seemed the sweeter, from breaking forth so unexpectedly in the
cheerless waste, and recalling to me, in the midst of a scene so
different, the plaintive nightingale. At the Karree and Sack rivers, I
once or twice heard, also in the middle of the night, the same singing.
The latitude was found to be 30° 20' 47." f The weather now
became fair, and the sky cloudless. From nine in the morning,
to one in the afternoon, the thermometer rose from 64° (17°‘7 C.) to
76° (24°-4 C.).
Having stopped at Buffel-bout no longer than was absolutely
necessary for resting the cattle and allowing them time to browse,
we commenced another long day’s journey, or, rather, two day’s
journeys in one, over plains of boundless extent, and little variety of
surface. For the first three miles the soil was sandy, and of a red
color, abounding in a species of grass (Poa) eighteen inches high, the
stalks and leaves of which were at this time dead and quite withered.
* On exploring this, several new and
were —
Lessertia annularis. 6 . Catal. Geog.
1597. Planta erecta palmaris.
Legumen, in formam annuii complanad
contractual.
Polygala pungens. B. Catal. Geog.
1598. Fruticulus pedalis erectus
sub-aphyllus, ramificatione divaricata.
Ramuli teretes glauci rigidi ;
omnes in spinam acutam desinentes.
Folia linearia acutiuscula ramulo
angustiora. Calycis folióla 2 ma-
jora albida venis viridibus picta.
Crista purpurascens. Legumen ob-
cordatum. Flores in racemulis
2—4-floris.
f 12th September, ak Buffel-bout, the obi
limb was 55° 27' 38".
is plants were found; among which
Sisymbrium\
Mahernia
Capraria P
Chrysocoma, 2 sp.
Convolvulus
Anthei'icum
Gnaphalium
Poa
Hermannia
Cynoglossum •echinatum. Th.
Ferraria undulata. Meeting with this
at so great a distance from all those
places where it has hitherto been
found, is a remarkable circum-
j stance.
meridional altitude of the sun’s upper
The succeeding part of the day we travelled across plains tolerably
well scattered over with bushes. The predominating shrubs were
Eriocephalus decussatus, Rhigozum trichotomum, and that already mentioned
as a JDais *; each giving the principal feature to its own
district. That of the Eriocephalus was quite whitened with the
abundance of snowy cotton-like seed with which it was covered: the
Rhigozum was not in blossom, but its brown branches cast a darker
tint on the landscape ; while a gay enlivening appearance was produced
by the profusion of golden flowers which decorated the Dais,
in whose presence the arid desert seemed to smile, f
The evening coming on, the party drew closer together, as well
for mutual protection, as to avoid losing each other in the darkness
of the night. Thus continuing on our dreary way till a late hour,
we suddenly heard the cry of Whoo-ah! Whoo-ah! from several
drivers in the rear. We instantly halted, thinking that some attack
had been made by the Bushmen, or that some formidable wild beast
had carried off an ox or one of our people. We ran back to their
assistance with loaded guns in our hand; but our fears were soon relieved,
on being told, as we approached, that it was nothing of this
kind: and yet, the accouchement of one of the Hottentot ladies, was
certainly an occurrence that happened very awkwardly just at this
time, and in such a spot.
It was thought not necessary to detain. the caravan on this
account,. considering the great danger of keeping the cattle much
longer without water; we therefore left the woman behind, with two
waggons, in the care and protection of her relations.
The importance of pushing forward, made us heedless of the risk
we ran in separating; yet, for the sake of my oxen, I started while
* At page 289.
f A black beetle was very often met with in our road, and seemed fond of crawling
along the ground which had been made smooth by the wheels; for which reason, and its
proving to be an undescribed species, I have called it
Moluris vialis. Nigra. Elytra postice, et ad latera, tuberculata, apicibus produces
glabris. Macula abdominalis velutina rufa. Thorax Isevis.
In its season it is a very common insect, and, in a geographical view, one of a very
wide range, but, I believe* quite extra-colonial.
R R