noon
Having filled their water-kegs , the next morning at day-light they yoked the oxen and left the banks of the Cradock or Black River , to proceed more to the northward , through the Bushmen 's country ; but as they were aware that there was no water to be procured , if they quitted the stream altogether , till they arrived at the Val or Yellow River , they decided upon following the course of the Black River to the westward for some time , before they struck off for the Val or Yellow River , near to which they expected to fall in with plenty of game , and particularly the giraffe and rhinoceros . Although at that season of the year the river was nearly dry , still there was a scanty herbage on and near its bank , intermixed with beds of rushes and high reeds ; this was sufficient for the pasture of the cattle , but it was infested with lions and other animals , which at the dry season of the year kept near the river-bank for a supply of water . By noon they had proceeded about fifteen miles to the westward , and as they advanced they found that the supply of water in the river was more abundant ; they then unyoked the cattle to allow them to feed till the evening , for it was too dangerous to turn them loose at night . As they were in no hurry , they resolved that they would only travel for the future from daylight till noon ; the afternoon and evening were to be spent in hunting , and at night they were to halt the caravan and secure every thing as before , by inclosing the horses and sheep , and tying up the oxen . By this arrangement the cattle would not be exhausted with their labor , and they would have time to follow the object of their journey -- that of hunting the wild animals with which the country abounded , and also of procuring a constant supply of food for themselves and their attendants . Having now traveled as far as they wished , they stopped at the foot of a rising ground , about a quarter of a mile from the river 's bank , and which was on the outskirts of a large clump of mimosa and other trees . As soon as the cattle were unyoked and had gone down to the river to drink , our travelers ordered their horses to be saddled , and as the banks of the river on that side were low , they rode up to the rising ground to view the country beyond , and to ascertain what game might be in sight .