at a houfe belonging to the Company’s butcher, where we remained all night. Here I found Oxalifes of feveral forts, and Hyacinths. This part of the country abounds with variety of game. There are feveral forts of Water-fnipes, Pheafants, and Partridges. There is alfo the Sten Bock and Hartebeeft ; but at certain times of the year it is forbidden to ihoot here. From this place we directed our courfe north-eaft, through Swart Land, and in the evening arrived at Rie Beck’s Caftle, at the houfe of one Mr. Drayer, a wealthy farmer, where we remained two days. Hence I made an excurfion to the Rie Beck’s Caftle Berg ; but as this was the winter feafon, very few plants were in flower. On the top of this hill a piece of cannon is placed for the purpofe of giving fignals, to prevent fur- prize from an enemy, and to alarm the adjacent country. We parted with our friendly hoft, Mr. Drayer, on the twenty-fifth, and continued our journey. In the evening we arrived at the Berg Rivier, where we flayed all night, and early next morning crofted it at a ferry. This day we proceeded on our journey to the Picquet Berg, and the next arrived at the Crois, where we flayed all night. From this place we directed our courfe wefterly, along the Verloren Valley, or Loft Valley ; and in the evening came to the houfe of Mr. Grieff. During the night of the twenty- fifth, a very heavy rain fell, which fwelled the river fo much that the next day we found it impaflable. The farmer was much pleafed with our company, and intreated us to prolong our flay for feveral days, to which, as the river ftill continued l^w - very high, we agreed. Upon feeing the waters fubfide, we '— '— 1 propofed to proceed in our journey, and were aflifted by our hofpitable friend, who fupplied us with fome of his cattle, which were more accuftomed to pafling the flood than our own. The river was broad, and in feveral places the oxen were obliged to fwim. When we reached the oppofite fhore we diredied our courfe northward, through a high fandy country, interfperfed with variety of Afpalathufes, Gnaphaliums, &c. At night we arrived at the Lange Valley, at the houfe of Mrs. Low, an old French woman, who had long lived in this part of the country, and was poflefled of numerous herds of cattle; here we flayed all night. The following day we proceeded on our journey through a large fandy plain, towards the Hier Lodfiement, which is above forty miles diftant. At night we came to the Jackals Valley, where, though we found no water, we were obliged to remain a few hours in order to refrelh our oxen, which were much fatigued. About two in the morning we proceeded to the place where we intended to reft, and in our way called at the Hier Lodfiement, where we knew there would be water. We arrived at nine in the afternoon, and found a peafant who had arrived about two hours before us. I inquired which way he was going, obferving he had many Hottentots and a number of guns in his waggon; he told me that his courfe was towards the Great River, and that he intended to accompany Colonel Gordon, whom I left at the Cape, but expedted he would foon overtake us. In the afternoon we diredted our courfe
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