The following day, we continued our journey north by weft, through a mountainous country; and towards the evening came to a fmall fountain of brackiih water, fituate under a naked rock of a conical figure, upwards of five hundred feet high. Here we remained till morning, and then proceeded north by eaft, after crofting a river, called the Coufie, or Sand River, where we found an European with his cattle, who lived here during the winter feafon. This man poflefled neither houfe nor hut, but lodged under the ihelter of a large Aloe Dichotoma, which is a very common plant in thefe regions. I have meafured feveral which were twelve feet in circumference, and above twenty feet high ; and I have feen fome above four hundred feet round the extremity of the branches, which extend themfelves in the form of a crown. This plant is called the Koker Boem, or Quiver Tre e ; and has its name from the ufe to which it is commonly applied by the natives. In the afternoon we continued our journey to the northward ; and in the evening came to the houfe of one Jan Vander Hi- ver, fituate on the Copper Berg Rivier, where we refted a few days, and were hofpitably entertained. I made feveral excurlions through the country, where I found a variety of plants; among thefe was the Geranium Spinofum, with yellow flowers. The foil about this part is a red fand. At this place I furniihed myfelf with fome freih oxen, part of mine being unferviceable. We next directed our courfe north, through a rugged country, in which we faw feveral of the natives at a diftance. In our way we palfed the Copper Mountain, which was difcovered in the year fixteen hundred and eighty-four, by Governor Vander Stell, blit found great fcarcity of wood and water. There is, at a little diftance, a brackiih fountain which is frequently dry in the fummer. In the evening we arrived at a fmall fountain where we had hardly water enough to fuffice us and our cattle. We, however, refolved to remain there all night, being informed that we were thirty miles diftant from the next water. We thence directed our courfe north. About ten, in the morning, we faw feveral natives approaching, armed with bows and arrows, whom we fuppofed to be Bulh Hottentots, and therefore thought it prudent to load our guns. They foon overtook us, and alked me for fome tobacco, which I willingly gave them. One, who fpoke Dutch, told me, that they had no cattle, and that they lived upon roots and gums; and fometimes feafted on an Antelope, which they occalionally fhot with their poifoned arrows. Soon after one of the inhabitants of the Nimiqua Land overtook us, and requefted I would accept of his company to the Great River. His nation being at war with the Bufh Hottentots, he was rather afraid, as they frequently rob the Nimiquas of their cattle, and often kill the people. In the evening we came to a fmall fountain, where we flayed all night, having travelled about thirty miles without meeting with a drop of water. The following morning we directed our courfe north by eaft, through a fandy plain ; and about funfet came to a brackiih fountain, where we flayed all night. Next morning I made an excurfion to a high mountain, to the eaftward, where I
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