ORANGE River, also known by the name of the Great
Great river, is situated in southern Africa, and is of considerable extent. It seems to take its rise about S. Lat. 30°, and E. Long. 28° from Greenwich, and joins the sea, after a west by north course for a number of leagues, between the great and little Namaquas, two tribes supposed to be of the same origin with the Hottentots. There are high cataracts in it, and it is subject to inundations like the Nile. Carnelians, calcedonies, agates and variolites are found upon the shores. The rains in the great mountains along the foot of which the Orange river runs, collecting their streams in its passage, commence in the month of November, and cause the inundations to take place towards the Namaqua country in the month of December. The nauseous custom of greasing the skin, from the great scarcity of water in many parts of South Africa, is rendered unnecessary among the people who inhabit the banks of this grand river; and of consequence they exhibit none of that filthy appearance which is characteristic of the Hottentots on the skirts of the colony.