I t oaober we i"aw ieveral; but they were fo very ihy that we could not !—*— ' approach them. There is alfo a fpecies of Antelope, which the Dutch call Eland*. Towards the evening we came to the mouth of the Palmita’I Rivier. The rains to the northward had Another fpecies of Aurochs is briefly defcribed by the Dutch travellers ; who fay it is like the common ox, but larger, and of a grey color; that its head is fmall, and horns fhort; that the hairs on'the bread are curled; that it has a beard like a goat; and that it is fo fwift, that the Namacques call it Baas, or the Mafter-courier. They diitinguiih this from the Gnou, or I mould think it the fame animal.” * “ This animal has thick {trait horns, marked with two prominent fpiral ribs near two-thirds of their length ; fmooth towards their end: fome are above two Feet long: thofe at the Britiih Mufeum, with part of their ikin adhering, are black. Head of a reddiih color, bounded on the cheeks by a duiky line. Ears of a middling fize. Forehead broad: nofe pointed. On the forehead, a itripe of long loofe hairs, and on the lower part of the dewlap, a large tuft of black hair. Along the neck and back, from head to tail, is a black ihort mane: the reft o f the body of a blueiih grey, tinged with red. Space between the hoofs and falfe hoofs black. The tail does not reach to the firft joint of the le g ; is covered with ihort cinerous hair ; the end tufted with long black hairs. The hoofs are ihort, furrounded at their jun£tion with the legs with a circle of black hairs. The height to the ihoulders is five feet: is thick bodied, and ftrongly made : but the legs are {lender. The females are horned like the males. This fpecies wants the finus lacrymalis. The Caffres call this fpecies Empophos. I f this is the Pacafle, as there is reafon to fuppofe it to be, they vary in color; the Pacafle being white, fpotted with red and grey. The Dutch of the Cape call it the Eland or Elk. M. de Buffon, by miftake, calls this the Coudous, which he ought to have beftowed on his Condoma. I t inhabits India, Congo, and. the fouthern parts of Africa. Frequents mountanous parts of the country. They live in herds ; but the old males are often folitary. They grow very fat, efpecially about the breaft and heart: fo that they are eafily caught: and when purfued, will fometimes fall dead in the chace. Are flow runners: when roufed, always go againft the wind, nor can the hunters (even if they front the herd] divert them from their courfe. The fleih is fine-grained, very delicious, and juicy. The hide is tough: the Hottentots make tobacco-pipes of the horns. There is another fpecies with ftrait horns nine inches long, pointing backwards, with two fpiral ribs: ears broad: color a deep tawny: beneath each eye a white fp o t: fides moft Angularly marked with two tranfverfe bands of white, crofled by two others from the back to the belly: the rump with three white lines pointing downwards on each fide: the thighs fpotted with white : tail ten inches long, covered with long rough hairs. Inhabits the plains and woods of Senegal, living in large herds. This is called at the Cape, the Bonte Bock, or fpotted goat.” Pennant, vol. i. page 71. IIill! I | g | j . t A plant common in that river. raifed it fo high, and the courfe was fo rapid, that it was with difficulty we were able to fwim through it. We travelled the '—»— whole night in very heavy rain, with lightning and loud claps of thunder. About two in the morning we came to the Knof- lick* Kraals Rivier, which takes its name from a fpecies of wild garlick. I t was fo very dark, that in the firft attempt I made to pafs the river, I found myfelf out of my depth : and with great difficulty got o u t : it was therefore neceffary to remain where we were till day-light. We made feveral fruitlefs effays to kindle a fire; but every thing was fo wet, that the utmoft we could produce was fmoke. The rain continued very hard ; and in this uncomfortable fituation, our anxiety for the light of day may be eafily conceived. We had now been twenty-four hours without eating ; as foon as we could fee, therefore, we crofted the river; and at nine in the morning came to the houfe of Michael Otto, where we were hofpitably received ; got to bed, and had our clothes dried; and after a few hours fleep took fome refrefhment. This place is- fituated between the Hottentot Holland mountains, and a fteep fandy place called, the How Hook; which may be faid to be a continuation of the ftrong pafs which I mentioned before. It produces corn and very good w in e ; much better than is generally found to the eaftward o f the Hottentot mountains. The foil is of a fine rich clay; but the pafture is coarfe, and feldom agrees with cattle, and leaft of all with fheep. Fruit is, in general, about three weeks later in ripening here, than about the Cape. At two we proceeded on our journey, through tue How Hook, colle&ing plants # Garlick.
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