with an additional summit, was distinguished by the name of
Pramberg.
The soil of this plain is a light clay tempered with sand, apparently
well suited for the purposes of agriculture; but, from the
want of a more constant supply of rain, producing, in general, no
shrub above a foot in height, excepting two or three kinds of Lycium,
Grass was observed between the bushes; but at this season it was
short and very thinly scattered: yet, after the rains have fallen, this
plain is said to be covered with verdure.
The oxen being pushed on almost at a trot, we travelled at the
rate of four miles and a half in the hour, which brought us to the
termination of the plain at half-past five, above seventeen miles
from Elands Valley, where we halted at a place called Corel Kriegers
Grave, * It was intended to unyoke here for the night; but it was
found that every drop of water was dried up. No sooner was this
ascertained, than a melancholy silence pervaded the whole party, interrupted
only by the mournful lowings of the thirsty cattle. From
the report of the Hottentots who came with the relays, it was known
that, forwards, there was no water within five-and-thirty miles; and
the probability of finding none, even there, was a prospect which
could not but excite gloomy apprehensions. Deliberation was use-
* While waiting at Card Kriegers Grave, I discovered a very curious kind of Acacia,
which, from its most striking feature, as compared with the other species of Southern
Africa, instantly suggested to me the name of
Acacia viridiramis. Cat. Geog. 1586. Frutex 3 — 4-pedalis. Rami virides flexuosi.
Spin» 2 stipulares recurv» brevissim». Gemm» (sub lente) albo-lanat».
Folia parva conjugato-pinnata. Pinn» 6—8-jug». Folia ovalia approximate.
Here also was found a new species of
' Zygophyllum, of singular robust growth;
And two kinds of
Lycium, species which, a little farther northward, were observed of a larger size
than had hitherto been seen in the Bushman country.
Crassida, resembling C. imbricata •
Eriocephalus decussatus. B.
Pteronia ? 2 species
Relhania ?
less; there was no choice left, but to travel day and night till we
reached some spring.
Without delay, the drivers clap their long whips, and, in a tone
of voice half-expressive of ill-temper from their disappointment,
loudly call out to the oxen, Loop! and instantly the whole of the
caravan are again in motion.
As we walked on, I enquired the story of Caret Krieger’s fate.
He was an indefatigable and fearless hunter; and, being also an
excellent marksman, often ventured into the most dangerous situations.
One day, near this spot, having with his party, pursued an
elephant which he had wounded, the irritated animal suddenly
turned round, and, singling out from the rest the person by whom
he had been wounded, seized him with his trunk, and, lifting his
wretched victim high in the air, dashed him with dreadful force to the
ground. His companions, struck with horror, fled precipitately from
the fatal scene, unable to turn their eyes to behold the rest of the
tragedy. But on the following day they repaired to the spot, where
they collected the few bones that could be found, and buried them
near the spring. The enraged animal had not only trampled his
body literally to pieces, but could not feel its vengeance satisfied till
it had pounded the very flesh into the dust, so that nothing of this
unfortunate man remained, excepting a few of the larger bones.
Such is the sad story, as it was related to me on the spot where it
happened. *
At Carel Krieger’s Grave we passed a narrow chain of low
mountains, which divides the Karreebergen Plain from a similar and
not less extensive, one. Over this unvaried wide expanse, we continued
travelling without intermission, or without even once slackening
our pace. The hunters no longer cared to pursue the game, which
often approached, as if to tempt us to the chace: water occupied all
our thoughts. The sun at length departed, but no moon succeeded to
* Some account of this unfortunate man has already been given under the date of the
7th of July, at page 201.