2 ^ 8 MODE OF BREAKING-IN OXEN FOR RIDING. 19,20 J uly,
on the morrow*' they quickly trotted out of sight, leaving me much
pleased at our meeting.
These oxen are generally broken in for riding, when they are
not more than a year old. The first ceremony is that of piercing
their nose to receive the bridle; for which purpose they.are thrown
on their back, and a slit is made through the septum, or cartilage
between the nostrils, large enough to admit a finger. In this hole
is thrust a strong stick stripped of its bark, and having at one end a
forked branch, to prevent it passing through. To each end of it is
fastened a thong of hide, of a length sufficient to reach round the
neck and form the reins; and a sheep-skin, with the wool on, placed
across the back, together with another folded up, and bound on with
a reim long enough to pass several times round the body, constitutes
the saddle. To this is sometimes added a pair of stirrups,
consisting only of a thong with a loop at each end, slung across the
saddle. Frequently the loops are distended by a piece of wood, to
form an easier rest for the foot. While the animal’s nose is still
sore, it is mounted, and put in training; and, in a week or two, is
generally rendered tolerably obedient to its rider. The facility and
adroitness with which Hottentots manage; the ox, has often excited
my admiration. It is made to walk, trot, or gallop, at the will of its
1811, YOKE-RIVER HEIGHTS TYS KRAAL. 229
master; and, being longer legged, and rather more lightly made,
than "the ox of England, travels with greater ease and expedition;
walking three or four miles in the hour, trotting five, and gallopping,
on an emergency, seven or eight.
Juk-riviers Hoogte (Yoke-river Heights) is a considerable eminence
; and in descending it, we were, for the first time, since leaving
Tulbagh, obliged to skid the wheels. After this we continued our
journey by night, and at about eight o’clock halted under Gouds-
bloems Hoogte (Marygold Heights) * at an ‘ outspan-place’ called
Tys-kraal, by a dry river-course abounding in acacias and karree-
trees. Under their spreading branches we kindled a large fire, which
the coldness of the night now rendered very necessary. Coffee was
immediately prepared, and our Hottentot cooks having soon broiled
the mutton ca/rbonaadtjes (chops or steaks), it was not long before
supper was finished, and all the party were asleep ; but the recording
of the observations, and the disposing of the collections, of the day,
kept me fully employed till midnight.
At Hangklip we quitted what may properly be called the Karro
plains, and continued travelling between hills of inconsiderable size
and elevation, all the strata of which were perfectly horizontal, till
we came to Juk river, where the country becomes much more hilly.
20th. By an observation of the sun’s meridional altitude, I ascertained
the latitude of Tys-kraal, to be 32° 46' 52". f Just as the
observation was completed, I had the misfortune, in taking up the
artificial horizon, to spill half the quicksilver on the ground. The
quantity which remained not being enough to form a reflecting
surface of the required size, and knowing that no money could replace
the loss, without returnirig to Cape Town, I could not but
* So called from a profusion of flowers, of the class Composites, observed here at a
particular season of the year. The term Goudsbloem, like too many of the colonial
names, is applied gratuitously to varjous plants, fancied to have a resemblance to the' Mary-
gold. Different species of Arctotis have generally been pointed out to me for it, and sometimes
a kind of CotuLa.
f 20th July 1811, at Tys Kraal under Goudsbloem’s Hoogte, observed meridional
altitude of the Sun’s centre, 36° 24>' 39".