4 FRIENDLY ASSISTANCE. 26 F eb.
procure any further addition to our number: I was, however, well
satisfied at having secured even one more.
Our viaticum of corn consisted only of about half a bushel of
wheat, which the people immediately set about grinding; the null
at this place being fortunately in better order than the one at Rlaar-
wEtcr«26th. We obtained a quantity of dakka, or hemp-leaves, a very
acceptable present to the Bushmen, who, as before stated, use it
for smoking instead of tobacco. As a precaution, I ordered a .tag
jug of milk to be boiled, that we might take it with us ; for 1 had
remarked, that when not boiled, it had, in a few hours travelling,
either turned sour, or by the constant motion become buttermilk,
the butter having been completely separated by this kind of churning,
and formed into round balls, which floated on the surface. We also
cast an additional store of bullets, that we might be prudently prepared
against any attack from the inhabitants of the country throug
which we were about to pass, and whose disposition was equally
unknown to all of us; although, while making this provision we .
were more inclined to believe it would only be consumed m hunting.
I made another drawing of the village and surrounding mountains,
from a point of view different from those of my former sketches.
The business of grinding corn detained us till past three m the
afternoon; when I took my leave of the friendly Captain Berends,
to whom, indeed, I was indebted, in the affair of hiring men, for all
the assistance which I had received, beyond what had been affected
bv mv own Hottentots. The inhabitants of his kraal assembled
around us to witness our departure, and bade us farewell m a manner
which afforded pleasure to myself, and animated all my party with the
highest spirits, and raised their confidence in a safe return ; a confidence
of no small importance on such occasions, and not of mere
imaginary utility in contributing to ultimate success.
We followed the course of the rivulet as it winds along the nar-
See the Vignette in Vol. I. at page 323.
1812. SCENERY IN THE ASBESTOS-MOUNTAINS. 5
row valley which conducts it through the Asbestos Mountains towards
the Gariep. * This valley is more romantic and picturesque than
any which I had seen since leaving the Hex-river kloof. The
mountains, which are essentially the same sort of clay-slate which has
been already described, rose close on either hand in bold majestic
forms, in some places clothed with luxuriant verdure, or more frequently
exhibiting their steep rocky sides sprinkled here and there with
light bushes growing out of their crevices, and enlivening with tints
of verdure the rich and varied browns of their broken crags. Along
the dale below we rode in many places over a thick and verdant
carpet of the most beautiful grass f, shaded often by the soft foliage
of large trees of acacia, whose branches were loaded with festoons of
clematis hanging wild with all the grace and charms of Nature, and
decorating them with a profusion of white flowers, which diffused their
delicate and grateful odor through the airy grove. In one spot, an
immense mass of rock, or rather a mountain, reared its lofty precipice
high above our heads, and, partially covered with evergreens and
various shrubs, presented a subject for both admiration and regret,
since time and circumstances allowed me no opportunity for making
a drawing of the scene.
Our road became more irregular and hilly, leading us sometimes
through the dry bed of the rivulet; sometimes halfway up the sides
of the mountain; and often through thickets of acacias, which
abounded throughout the whole length of the valley; and, as we
passed, lent their friendly aid in sheltering us from the burning lays
of the sun.
A clear refreshing spring which we perceived hard by beneath
the trees, tempted us to halt a few minutes to quench our thirst:
it was the cool fountain of a Kraal of Koras, whose sheep and oxen
were in sight grazing upon the sides of the hills around. A few of
* Vol. I. page 334s
f Catal. Geogr. 2570. Exceedingly like the Wire-grass of the island of S t Helena
(Agrostis linearis^ Willd. S. P.), and near akin to that which is called Cocksfoot-grass by
theEn glish farmers. (Panicum Dactylon^ Linn. Cynodon Dactylon, Pers.)