"Afar in the Desert I love to ride,

With the silent Bush-boy alone by my side:
Away-away from the dwellings of men,

By the wild deer's haunt, and the buffalo's glen;
By valleys remote, where the oribi plays;

Where the gnoo, the gazelle, and the hartebeest graze,
And the gemsbok and eland unhunted recline

By the skirts of grey forests o'ergrown with wild vine;
And the elephant browses at peace in his wood;
And the river-horse gambols unscared in the flood;
And the mighty rhinoceros wallows at will

In the Vley, where the wild-ass is drinking his fill."

Mr. Pringle, the author, seems to possess considerable graphic talents, though the structure of his verse is not very felicitousa part of the succeeding lines presents a dreary, and from Mr. Thompson's account, not an unfaithful picture of countries which he traversed :

"Away-away in the wilderness vast,

Where the white man's foot hath never pass'd,
And the quiver'd Koranna or Bechuan
Hath rarely cross'd with his roving clan :

A region of emptiness, howling and drear,

Which man hath abandon'd from famine and fear;
A region of drought, where no river glides,
Nor rippling brook with osier'd sides;
Nor reedy pool, nor mossy fountain,
Nor shady tree, nor cloud-capp'd mountain,
Are found-to refresh the aching eye:
But the barren earth, and the burning sky,
And the blank horizon round and round,
Without a living sight or sound,

Tell to the heart, in its pensive mood,

That this is-NATURE'S SOLITUDE!"

The truth of this description was soon verified to the poor traveller and his two attendants. A long, naked plain, without trees or water, was to be passed over; for several days the horses were without drink, and for nearly four days our author and his suffering companions were absolutely without food. No game, except in a particular place a few turtle-doves, for which he had no small shot, was seen: some wandering natives were occasionally met with, subsisting on ants and the gum of the mimora, which Mr. Thompson declares he could not swallow; and life itself was in danger of extinction, unless they killed and fed upon their horses-a desperate measure, which would have rendered their return impossible. At this critical moment, one of the "Bass boys" determined once more to try the chance of hunting; and to the inexpressible joy of his companions, returned, after a day's absence, loaded with part of the flesh of a zebra.

Mr. Thompson now reached the banks of the Gariep or Orange river, by a route never before explored by a European traveller. This great river flows from the interior to the ocean; its mouth is in about the 29th degree of latitude. The vicinity of its banks

presented different scenes from those in which our traveller had so long toiled; and in addition to wood and water, and herbage for the horses, he soon found himself among a peaceable and friendly tribe.

The Korannas are said to be a race of pure Hottentots, who have seated themselves on the banks of the Gariep, where they lead a pastoral and quiet life, without hostilities against any but the Bushmen, who even here are regarded as thieves, whom it is not only lawful but meritorious to hunt out and destroy.

On his return, he experienced, though for a shorter time, the same sufferings from the want of wood and water; and his attendants were on the point of abandoning him in the desert, unless he would accompany them on another route, when the fortunate appearance of two Griquaa hunters prevented their desperate scheme. By these men he was informed, that he was within twenty miles of a missionary settlement, to which he hastened as fast as the debilitated condition of his horses would permit. He was now among the Namaquas, a race too much resembling the Korannas to merit particular description; and from this place to Cape Town, which he reached after an absence of six weeks, no important adventure occurred.

In both these expeditions, through countries abounding with wild beasts, we are disappointed in hearing so seldom of those which always attract our curiosity. But Mr. Thompson seems not to have been himself a sportsman; and, with the single exception of Witteboy's most fortunate shot at the zebra, we have no account of a single hunting expedition. The lion, however, though not sought for, sometimes made his appearance, and terrified without injuring the party. More than once, he suffered them to pass by him without altering his posture; and on one occasion, while they were at dinner, continued couchant, at a small distance, regarding them in the most civil manner during the whole of their repast. The only instance in which there was an attempt at aggression, was a spring made by another lion at one of the horses, in which the assailant failed, and afterwards stalked slowly away. That a sullen departure after an abortive assault, is a leonine habit, is attested by other travellers; and were it not, we should be disposed to credit the relation on the authority of Mr. Thompson alone.

The following remarkable case was communicated to our traveller, and believed by him to be true:

"I was told here that a lion had just killed an ox, and been shot in the act. It is the habit of the lion, it seems, when he kills a large animal, to spring upon it, and, seizing the throat with his terrible fangs, to press the body down with his paws till his victim expires. The moment he seizes his prey, the lion closes his eyes, and never opens them again until life is extinct. The Hottentots are aware of this; and on the present occasion, one of the herdsmen ran to the spot with his gun, and fired at the lion within a few yards distance; but from the agi

tation of his nerves, entirely missed him. The lion, however, did not even deign to notice the report of the gun, but kept fast hold of his prey. The Hottentot reloaded, fired a second time, and missed; reloaded again, and shot him through the head. This fact, being well authenticated, seemed to me curious, and worthy of being mentioned."

In the Appendix are inserted some anecdotes of the lordly brute, collected by the author's friend; the most remarkable of which are those which show the impression sometimes made on him by the human countenance. Diederik Miller, one of the most intrepid and successful lion hunters in South Africa, had once been out,

"Hunting in the wilds, when he came suddenly upon a lion, which, instead of giving way, seemed disposed, from the angry attitude he assumed, to dispute with him the dominion of the desert. Diederik instantly alighted, and confident of his unerring aim, levelled his mighty roer at the forehead of the lion, who was couched in the act to spring, within fifteen paces of him : but at the moment the hunter fired, his horse, whose bridle was round his arm, started back, and caused him to miss. The lion bounded forward-but stopped within a few paces, confronting Diederik,-who stood defenceless, his gun discharged, and his horse running off. The man and the beast stood looking each other in the face, for a short space. At length the lion moved backward, as if to go away. Diederik began to load his gun; the lion looked over his shoulder, growled, and returned. Diederik stood still. The lion again moved cautiously off; and the boor proceeded to load, and ram down his bullet. The lion again looked back, and growled angrily and this occurred repeatedly, until the animal had got off to some distance,-when he took fairly to his heels, and bounded away."

"Gert Schepers, a Vee-Boor of the Cradock District, was less fortunate in an encounter with a South African lion. Gert was out hunting in company with a neighbour,-whose name, as he is yet alive, and has perhaps been sufficiently punished, I shall not make more notorious. Coming to a fountain, surrounded, as is common, with tall reeds and rushes, Gert handed his gun to his comrade, and alighted to search for water. But he no sooner approached the fountain, than an enormous lion started up close at his side, and seized him by the left arm. The man, though taken by surprise, stood stock still without struggling, aware that the least attempt to escape would ensure his instant destruction. The animal also remained motionless, holding fast the boor's arm in his fangs, but without biting it severely,-and shutting his eyes at the same time, as if he could not withstand the countenance of his victim. As they stood in this position, Gert, collecting his presence of mind, began to beckon to his comrade to advance and shoot the lion in the forehead. This might have been easily effected, as the animal not only continued still with closed eyes, but Gert's body concealed from his notice any object advancing in front of him. But the fellow was a vile poltroon, and in place of complying with his friend's directions, or making any other attempt to save him, he began cautiously to retreat to the top of a neighbouring rock. Gert continued earnestly to beckon for assistance for a long time, the lion continuing perfectly quiet: and the lion hunters affirm, that if he had but persevered a little longer, the animal would have at length relaxed his hold, and left him uninjured. Such cases at least, they maintain, have occasionally occurred. But Gert, indignant at the pusillanimity of his comrade, and losing patience with the lion, at last drew his knife, (a weapon which every back-country colonist wears sheathed at his side,) and with the utmost force of his right arm, plunged it into the animal's breast. The thrust was a deadly one, for Gert was a bold and powerful man; but it did not prove effectual in time to save his own life,-for the enraged savage, striving to grapple with him, and held at arm's length by the utmost efforts of Gert's strength and desperation, so dreadfully lacerated the breast and arms of the unfortunate man with his talons, that his bare bones were laid open.

Mr. Thompson assures us, that the habits and customs of the Dutch in Cape Town are becoming every day "more decidedly English." And this is probable and natural. Although the same despotic power which was formerly held by the Dutch governors is at an end, yet the possession of a moderated authority will of course produce influence, and lead to such fashions of conduct as may be deemed acceptable to those who govern. The view of the superior comforts, and perhaps more polished manners, of their English neighbours, must also have a gradual effect on social intercourse. But the Dutch farmer, who (not disrespectfully) is termed the Boor, seems to remain unaltered. Seated individually on large tracts of land, frequently of four, five, or six thousand acres-secluded from all but occasional and unfrequent intercourse with the English settler-revelling in the enjoyment of coarse and abundant food, derived from his own flocks and herds, without vegetable varieties in his diet-he follows the beaten track of his ancestors, and knows and cares nothing about the culture of his mind. Yet the Boors are generally kind and hospitable to travellers; and many instances are given, as well in this book as in the others to which we have referred, of friendly welcome. and assistance, when these were really wanted. The hand was not the less warm because it was hard and dirty, and hunger was not less amply appeased because the substantial meal was without the condiments of foreign luxury.

Of the original inhabitants of the country included within the limits of the colony, the Hottentots, so numerous in the time of Kolben, are now reduced to the small number already mentioned, and are chiefly in the condition of dependents on the White Inhabitants. One small farm, occupied by a Hottentot, is mentioned as a rare instance, with a benevolent wish that more such could be found. It is stated to be the only case in which a grant of land in any part of the country has been made to a Hottentot. The author visited the little secluded spot, consisting of only fifty-four acres, and speaks favourably of the improvements. But even of this slender establishment, the native was, at one time, in danger of being deprived. He had been permitted by the deputy Landdrost to occupy this wild place, which no boor thought worth the asking for, when, upon the arrival of the settlers (we presume the English settlers, as we observe the distinctive appellations of Boors and Settlers are preserved throughout,) he was warned to evacuate it, in order that it might be added to their location; and he would have been thus unceremoniously dispossessed, if the Colonial Government, on a representation of the case, had not interfered, and made him a grant of the land on a perpetual quit-rent.

We shall now proceed to accompany our author through some

parts of his tours, which, as he advanced beyond the habitations of civilized man, became at times quite interesting.

His first journey commenced in April 1823-when he proceeded to, and passed through the British settlements on the Eastern Coast-from which he struck off in a northerly direction towards the Gariep river.

The difference between the present and the former condition of this part of the country, is shortly described:

"Passed the location of the late General Campbell,. (one of the heads of the settlers,) which is now occupied by his widow, an elegant and accomplished lady. The natural features of the country are here exceedingly beautiful, and Mrs. Campbell's neatly ornamented cottage, though constructed only of wattle and plaster, had a most pleasing and picturesque appearance, surrounded by luxuriant woods and copses of evergreens, in the disposal of which the wanton hand of Nature seemed to have rivalled the most tasteful efforts of art.

"As I travelled through this rich and smiling scene, now enlivened by the dwellings and improvements of civilized man, and saw the flocks of sheep pasturing on the soft green hills, while the foaming surge broke along the beach on my right hand, I could not help recalling to mind the fate of the Grosvenor's shipwrecked crew, who traversed this beautiful country in other times and far different circumstances. It was not far from this very spot that the poor boy, Law, after surmounting incredible hardships, lay down to sleep upon a rock, and was found dead in the morning. At that time, the boundary of the Colony extended only to Algoa Bay, and the wretched wanderers had still innumerable toils and perils to endure, before they could reach the residence of Christians,-and but few survived indeed to reach them. A skeleton, which was lately found by my friend Mr. Thornhill, in one of the sand-banks, a few miles farther to the eastward, in a sitting posture, may not improbably be the remains of one of those unfortunate wanderers; for many instances are related, in the journal of the survivors, of individuals exhausted with hunger and fatigue, sitting down to rise no more; and a corpse left in such a situation, would be covered up by the drifting of the sand in a few hours, if the wind happened to blow strong from the south-east."

Of the village of Graaff-Reinet, he gives the following account, the concluding part of which merits the attention of our fellowcitizens, now so largely engaged in internal improvements:

"I spent these four days in Graaff-Reinet. This place is wonderfully improved since the days of Barrow, when it consisted merely of a few miserable mud and straw huts. It contains now about three hundred houses, almost all of which are neat and commodious brick edifices;—many are elegant. The streets are wide, laid out at right angles, and planted with rows of lemon and orange trees, which thrive here luxuriantly, and give to the place a fresh and pleasing appearance. Each house has a large allotment of ground behind it, extending in some instances to several acres, which is richly cultivated, divided by quince, lemon, or pomegranate hedges, and laid out in orchards, gardens, and vineyards. These are all watered by a canal from the Sunday River, which branches out into a number of small channels, and each inhabitant receives his due portion at a regular hour. This canal has been greatly improved, or rather constructed anew, on a much higher level, by the present Landdrost, who, by indefatigable exertion and entirely at his own risk, has carried it along the front of a rocky precipice, and by these means gained a large addition of arable ground, and a more certain and abundant supply of water. I was not a little surprised to find that this arduous task had been accomplished, without even the aid of blowing irons or gunpowder, merely by kindling large fires upon the rocks, and when they were well heated, dashing buckets of water upon them. By this simple process, immense blocks had been split, and rolled from the path of the water-course.