rocious animals. About midnight we came to a lake of brack- ifh water, where we agreed to remain till morning. We fecured our cattle in the ufual manner of the country, by tying them round the waggon, and making fires on the outfide all round us, to prevent an attack from the wild beafts. This bufinefs was no fooner performed, and our little caravan left to the enjoyment of fafety, than we were furprifed by a noife of fplafhing in the water, as if fomething were coming towards us.' Captain Gordon fuppofed it to announce the approach of wild beafts; and indeed we had nothing elfe to expedl, as this country abounds with them, and particularly with Lions. After fome time paffed in great anxiety, we at length found the noife proceeded from a calf which had ftrayed from a herd of cattle belonging to an European who lived about eight miles diftant from this place. Being now relieved from our fears, we endeavoured to get fome reft ; but paffed the remainder of the night very difagreeably, from a heavy ftorm of thunder and lightning, which was attended with much rain. Early in the morning we proceeded on our journey through an extenfive plain, called the Beer* Valley; and about nine in the morning we came to fome miferable huts in the ftyle of the Hottentots. Here we found an old German, who had attached himfelf to one of the Hottentot tribes, and had refided with them for about twenty years. His garment was compofed of fheeps lkins, iimilar to thofe which are worn by the natives; and his method of living was the fame. This man told me, that every three or four years he went to the Cape with a few cattle for fale, and with the produce of his goods purchafed 1—,—- powder, lead, and trinkets for his Hottentots. This place abounds with Lions more than any other of the inhabited parts of this country. The old German, whofe name was Newen- houfen, had ihot feveral before we arrived; fome of which we faw of a very large iize. As I was not in a good ftate of health, and my colleftion much increafed, I determined to part with my friend Captain Gordon, who proceeded on towards the Snew Berg, or Snow Mountain, and I remained a few days for the recovery of my health. The good old German furniihed me with a hut during my ftay, and behaved with great hofpitality. On the eleventh, I took leave of my hoft, and returned to Tfimeko, where I met with Mr. Lyfter, furveyor from the Cape, with other gentlemen, who were making a furvey of that country for the government, which they extended to the Great Filh River that divides the Caffres from the Hottentots. I added conli- derably to my colle&ion at this place, and made fome ftay for the purpofe of examining the mountains, which feemed covered with many uncommon p lants; though there is great danger of travelling on account of wild beafts, as well as of the Boihmens*, who often come down, waiting an opportu- * The Boihiefmen, fays Dr. Sparrman, “ particularly fuch as live round about Camdeboand Sneeuwberg, are fworn enemies to the paftoral life, borne of their maxims are, to live on hunting and plunder, and never to keep any animal alive for the fpace of one night. By this means they render themfelves odious to the reft of mankind, and are purfued and exterminated like the wild beafts, whofe manners they have affumed. Others of them again are kept alive, and
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