*77$ tacked the buffaloes; they were about an hundred in number; February. J . i i • i J five of them we (h o t; the others fled into a wood, which was about a mile to the eaftward of us. Mr. Kock had the animals ikinned; their hides making fuch excellent thongs for oxen that they are preferred to every other material for this purpofe. At night we arrived at the Fifh River, where we flayed two days. During the night we had heavy ihowers of rain, with loud claps of thunder. Here the river affumes a fouthern direction, and empties itfelf into the great Indian Ocean, at about twenty miles diftance. The deepeft parts of the river are inhabited by the Hippopotamus, and the adjacent woods by Elephants, Rhinocerofes, and Buffaloes. We fhot feveral of the buffaloes, which were much heavier than an European bullock. Seeing no poflibility of proceeding farther with out waggon through the impenetrable woods, we agreed that Mr. Van Renan ihould continue with it, while Mr, Kock and I proceeded eafterly towards the Caffres, being informed that we could reach their country in two or three days. Moft of the arboreous plants in thefe parts were unknown to me, except the Euphorbia Antiquorum, Erythrina Corallodendron, and the Gardenia Stellata. We took with us a Hottentot who was perfectly acquainted with the language of the Caffres. In palling through the thickets, on the banks of the Fiih River, we encountered confiderable difficulties, till \ye fortunately got into an Elephant’s path, in which we continued till noon. We then erofled the river and entered a fpacious plain, which afforded us great variety of the moft beautiful evergreens I had ever feen ; and feveral bulbous plants, fuch as Irifes and ' 779- * February* Crinums, many of which I found in flower. I particularly '— >—-> noticed one fpecies of this plant, the flowers of which were crimfon, and in beauty and elegance far exceeded any I had ever met with. In the evening we encamped under a large Mimofa, and made fires during the night. After palling this extenlive plain, we entered a wood about eight miles broad. In many places the trees were thinly fcat- tered; in thefe openings we difcovered numerous herds of Buffaloes, which had not the leaft appearance of ihynefs; one of them we wounded. Soon after this we faw a herd of Elephants, about eighty in number, which approached fo near to us, that we could obferve the length and thicknefs of their teeth. After leaving the wood, we afcended a fteep mountain, where we had a view of the Indian Ocean to the fouth- ward ; and to the northward, a hilly country covered with trees and evergreen Ihrubs, which extended about thirty miles. The profped was bounded by a range of mountains, called the Bamboo Berg, on which grows a fpecies of Bamboo. To the eaft we had a view of a pleafant country decorated with great variety of plants. The country is here well watered, and produces excellent pafture for cattle. Towards the evening, of the feventh, we obferved a fire about ten miles to the eaftward of us, upon the Hope of a green hill. Our interpreter told us this was at a Caffre village. At funfet we difcovered another much nearer, and faVv feveral herds of cattle. About eight in the evening we met three of the Caffres, who were much furprifed at our appearance, as we were certainly the firft N
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