the train of waggons, each with a steady leader at the head of the
team, to restrain the oxen from turning down with the current,
which they are very inclined to do, when left to themselves. As
one waggon plunged into the stream, another descended headlong
down the steep bank, closely followed by another ; and as these
moved on, others in their turn advanced from the rear, till the line,
stretching entirely across the river, seemed like a bridge of waggons.
The train at first took a very oblique direction downwards, till they
had reached the middle of thé river, and from that point, proceeded
directly across to the opposite, side. The bottom was found to be
full of large pebbles, and the greatest depth no more than two feet
and eight inches; but the current was therefore very rapid and
strong. The water was quite transparent, a proof that no heavy rains
had lately fallen in the upper part of its course. At the ford the
surface was smooth ; but lower down, and in sight, it was broken by
a fall of about two feet. Each waggon took a quarter of an hour
to perform the passage, which might be estimated at a little
more than a quarter of a mile. The oxen were driven through
by about a dozen Hottentots ; and as many were required to swim
the sheep and goats over in safety.
CHAPTER XIV.
JOURNEY IN THE COUNTRY OF THE KORAS, FROM THE GARIEP TO THE
ASBESTOS MOUNTAINS. — STAY AT THE KLOOF VILLAGE. — AND ARRIVAL
AT KLAARWATER.
W e had long been looking forward to the crossing of the Gariep,
as a serious undertaking, and therefore had the greater reason for
congratulating each other on having thus accomplished it without
the least accident, and with so much less diificulty than had been
expected." In less than three hours, every thing belonging to our
caravan, was safely landed on the northern side of this formidable
barrier.
Ascending a beach, covered with large loose stones, :we took .up
our station by the clumps of acacias, which were everywhere dispersed
over a sandy level, diversified with hillocks. My own waggon was
drawn up under the tempting and refreshing shade of an ancient
Karree tree.