’777- to examine the fmali bays and rocks in the mouth of the Bay Oftober. } J '— .— 1 Falfe ; which at that time were but little known; in particular that on which the Colebrooke itruck fome time after. As there is no road along the bay, we took each a fmall portion of pro- vifions and our cloaks; fatisfied that it would be impoffible to perform the journey in one day. Notwithftanding the rugged rocks and mountains we were obliged to crofs, we took horfe as far as it was pollible; and much farther than it was fafe ; for the horfe I had, fell with me upon the fide of a very high precipice ; and it was by mere accident that I faved myfelf, by laying hold of a fhrub which grew out of a rock. About noon we came to the mouth of StienbraiTam River, which takes its name from a fpecies of fifh, called StienbraiTam. In the morning we came to a deep bay, not laid down in any of our fea-charts. It opens to the north-well, and is well iheltered from the fouth- eaft winds by very lofty mountains. At this time Captain Gordon called it Van Pletenbey’s Bay ; but fince that he has given it another n am e ; and fome time after, he difcovered a bay to the ealtward, which is laid down in all the new charts, and is faid to be very fafe for ihipping. Finding a fmall ftream of excellent water at this place, we agreed to flay all n ig h t; and next morning we continued our journey round the Hang Lip, or Cape Falfe. From Hottentot Holland, to this place, the country is quite uninhabited ; the whole trail confifting of precipices and rugged mountains. We paffed a fecond bay, which was fmaller than the firit ; though the entrance is clear of rocks, and a fine white fan d ; this was called Gordon’s Bay. About a mile and a half from this we came to a third, which, in Captain Gordon’s map, is called Paterfon’s Bay; this is much larger than the fecond, but fmaller than the firit. The 0^ £ ;r. latter is dire&Iy under the Hang Lip; and between it and '—r—> Gordon’s Bay are lakes of frefh water, and plenty of wood. All thefe bays open to the north-weft, and ilrike fouth inland. About two, in the afternoon, we paffed Cape Falfe ; to the fouth-eaft of which is a large plain, covered with many different fpecies of grafs; but all of them bad for cattle. Here I found a fpecies of Erica, which was quite new, with a fpike of long tubelar yellow flowers, the moft beautiful I had ever feen. There are fome wild buffaloes * about this place, of which * Mr. Pennant’s defcription of this animal is as follows: “ The face is covered with long harih black hair. Chin, underfide of the neck, and dewlap, covered with long, pendulous, and coarfe hairs of the fame colour. From the horns, along the top of the neck, to the middle of the back, is a very thin black mane. Body covered with ihort, dark, cinerous hair: bafe of the tail almoft naked and cinerous, the reft full of long black hair. Skin thick and tough. Length from nofe to tail, of one not of the largeft fize, is eight feel: the height five and a half. Depth of the body three feet: length of the head one foot nine : of the trunk of the tail one foot nine: to the end of the hairs, two feet nine. Body and limbs thick and ftrong. They inhabit the interior parts of Africa, north of the Cape of Good Hope; but, I believe, do not extend to the north of the Tropic. They are faid to be greatly fuperior in fize to the largeft Engliih ox : hang their heads down, and have a moft fierce and malevolent appearance. Are exceflively fierce and dangerous to travellers. Will lie quietly in wait in the woods, and ruih fuddenly on paf- fengers, and trample them, their horfes, and oxen of draught, under their feet: fo that they are to be ihunned as the moft cruel beafts of this country. They will even return to the attack, and delight to lick the ilaughtered bodies. They are prodigiouily fwift, and fo ftrong, that a young one of three years of age, being placed with fix tame oxen in a waggon, could not by their united force be moved from the fpot. They are alfo found in the interior parts of Guinea; but are fo fierce and dangerous, that the negroes who are in chace of other animals are fearful of Ihooting at them. The lion, which can break the back of the ftrongeft domeftic oxen at one blow, cannot kill this fpecies, except by leaping on its back, and fuffocating it, by fixing its talons about its nofe and mouth. The lion often periihes in the attempt; but leaves the marks of its fury about the mouth and nofe of the beaft. It loves much to roll in the mud, and is fond of the water. The fleih is coarfe, but juicy, and has the flavour of venifon. They live in great herds, elpeciglly in Krake-Kamma, and other deferts of the Cape ; and retire during day into the thick forefts. Are reckoned good meat. They are called by the Dutch of the Cape-, Aurochs, Q Another
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