half, and their distance apart five feet. The tire (band) is of one
piece, and in width two inches and a half. The whole of the wheels,
axletrees, and parts connected with them, constituting what the'
boors call the onderstel or carriage, is well covered with tar. Those
parts belonging to, and joined with, the fore pair of wheels, are
denominated the vow-stel; and those to the after pair, the agter-stel.
On the top of each axletree lies a strong piece of timber, called the
skammel, upon which the bulk plank or bottom of the waggon rests.
Into each end of the skammels, is strongly morticed an upright piece
named the rong, against which the sides rest, and by which they
are prevented from spreading outwards. A strong bolt of iron runs
through the foreskammel, and connects it with the axletree which
turns upon i t ; but the after-skammel is firmly confined to its axle-
tree by iron bands. The langwagen is that beam which connects the
two axletrees together, and for safety, in case of its suddenly breaking
by any accident, a long separate-bar of iron, called the izer (iron)
langwagen, is added. Behind the after axletree is fixed the trap
for step), a wooden frame serving both as steps to assist in
getting into the waggon, and, usually, as a convenient place for the
cooking utensils. Through the middle of the fore axletree,
passes a strong piece of timber, called the tang; the fore end of which
is shaped into two cheeks between which the pole is bolted, and is free
to move vertically only. The pole (disselboom) is ten feet long, having
at the end a strong iron staple; the tang-arms are two curved (they
ought rather to be straight) bars of iron; one on each side, connecting
the end of the tang with the ends of the axletree. Their use is
to support the tang in the act of turning the waggon; the tang is, as
it were, a continuation of the langwagen, with which it is connected by
a horizontal joint. The wheels are of that form, technically called
‘ dishing’ wheels, and stand vertically. The tilt {tent) is made shorter
than the waggon, for the purpose of leaving an open space in front,
of about two feet and a half; where there is a raised seat or box for
the driver. The ligter (lifter) is a strong lever, about eight or nine
feet long, the fulcrum of which is an upright piece of timber, called
the lister-voet or lever-foot, about two feet and a half high. . This is
used for hoisting up the axletrees when the wheels are taken off to
be greased. The teerput (tar-bucket) is usually suspended from a
hook in the onder le’erboom. The drag-chain is fixed to a ring in
the afterpart of the tang, behind the fore axletree. The remschom
(lock-shoe or skid), is a log of wood, generally about eight inches
square, and nearly two feet long, having a groove in it to receive the
felly of the wheel; and is furnished in front with a stout loop of
twisted raw hide. The manner in which the wheels are skidded,
maybe seen by the preceding engraving: it obviates the great
danger which would arise from the skid suddenly flying from under
the felly, as, in this mode, the wheel in such case would still remain
locked. The trektouw (draw-rope or trace), is a long rope made of
twisted thongs of raw hide, made fast by a hook to the staple at the
end of the pole, and having iron rings attached to it at proper
distances, into which rings the yokes are hooked. The yokes * are
straight, and pierced with two pairof mortices to receive the juk-
schei which fits in loosely, and answer to what in English husbandry
are called the bows: but are merely two straight pegs, one on each
side of the ox’s neck, and having notches on their outer sides to
receive the nek-strop (neck strap) The riem (or halter), is a leathern
thong about twelve feet in length, with a noose at one end, by
which it is fixed round the ox’s horns. It is used for holding and
managing the animal, while yoking and unyoking; and. afterwards
for making it fast, if necessary: it is always left coiled round its horns,
except when turned loose to graze. The whip, and the shambok have
been already described, f
The principal and very important advantage of a Cape-built
waggon consists in its sides, bottom, and carriage, not being joined
The engraving at the end of the chapter exhibits in their relative proportion,
according to the subjoined scale, the various articles here described: a yoke with its neck-
strap, &c, complete; the drag-rope; the pole; the halter; the skid; thelever; the whip,
and the shambok; together with a horizontal plan of the fore axletree, and part of the
pole; besides a vertical section of the fore wheels, axletree, body of the waggon, and tilt,
f . At pages 52 and 86.