The Country
Adjacent To The River Is Covered With Dense Bush, Thorny And Tangled,
Making One Stoop Or Wait Till
The men broke or held the branches on one side.
There is much rank grass, but it is not so
High or rank as that of Angola.
The maize, however, which is grown here is equal in size to that
which the Americans sell for seed at the Cape. There is usually a holm
adjacent to the river, studded with villages and gardens. The holms are
but partially cultivated, and on the other parts grows rank and weedy grass.
There is then a second terrace, on which trees and bushes abound;
and I thought I could detect a third and higher steppe.
But I never could discover terraces on the adjacent country,
such as in other countries show ancient sea-beaches. The path runs
sometimes on the one and sometimes on the other of these river terraces.
Canoes are essentially necessary; but I find that they here cost too much
for my means, and higher up, where my hoes might have secured one,
I was unwilling to enter into a canoe and part with my men
while there was danger of their being attacked.
18TH. Yesterday we rested under a broad-spreading fig-tree.
Large numbers of buffaloes and water-antelopes were feeding quietly
in the meadows; the people have either no guns or no ammunition,
or they would not be so tame. Pangola visited us, and presented us with food.
In few other countries would one hundred and fourteen sturdy vagabonds
be supported by the generosity of the head men and villagers,
and whatever they gave be presented with politeness.
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