one of great antiquity; for all the Hottentot race, their fathers, and
their grandfathers’ fathers, as they express themselves, have practised
it before them. A small hole the size of a finger was very dextrously
made at one end, and having cut a forked stick from the bushes,
they introduced it into the egg by pressing the two prongs close together
; then by twirling the end of the stick between the palms of
their hands for a short time, they completely mixed the white and
the yolk together. Setting it upon the fire, they continued frequently
to turn the stick, until the inside had acquired the proper consistence
of a boiled egg. This method recommends itself to a traveller, by
its expedition, cleanliness, and simplicity; and by requiring neither
pot, nor water ; the shell answering perfectly the purpose of the first,
and the liquid nature of its contents, that of the other.
During the time of our halt, the weather which had been fair all
the forenoon, began to change; and clouds thickening over the sky,
threatened us with instant rain. Seeing this, the Hottentots were
preparing a shelter, with the view of remaining at this spot till the
morrow ; but deeming it better to be riding, than sitting still, in the
rain, I ordered them to repack the oxen, that, by proceeding farther,
we might reach some better water before dark.
We had but just set out, when a party of eight people was perceived
hastening towards u s; and a nearer approach enabling us to
discover that Makhowfa (Ruiter) was of the number, we halted till
they came up with us. He had not only, without much difficulty,
prevailed on Riizo to relinquish his tobacco journey, and come
directly to us, but our good fortune had so arranged it, that there
happened to be at the same time at that place, the captain, or chief,
of a large kraal which lay exactly in the direction of our course.
This man, being about to return home, had himself proposed to join
our party, and was now, with that intent, accompanied by three of
his men, and three women, one of whom was his wife.
I immediately fulfilled the promise of tobacco which Makhowta
had in my name made to Riizo and at the same time made a present
of an equal quantity to the captain, and to each of his party. This
act of generosity at once established me in their good opinion, and
Kaabi, for that was the chief’s name, to express his gratitude, pledged
himself for my safety while I remained in his part of the country,
and for a friendly reception at his village.
We then rode forward; our Bushman friends following on foot,
and evidently as happy at having gained my friendship, as I was at
securing theirs. Guided only by my compass, as the day was dark
and cloudy, we continued for nearly three hours travelling over a
plain having no visible termination, nor any eminence to break its
perfect uniformity. Its soil differed totally from that of the plain
which we had crossed in the morning: the surface was of a harder
nature, and in some places it was strewed with pebbles; but scarcely
any grass, and not a bush or shrub higher than half a foot, was any
where to be seen.
A herd of antelopes* of the species known among the boors
by the misapplied name of Gemsboh f was observed at a distance,
but on account of the openness of the country, it was useless for us
to pursue them, as we could never have approached within musket
shot.
It rained incessantly the whole afternoon; but towards sunset
the weather began to clear up ; and, as all were most uncomfortably
wet, we resolved to unpack at the first spot which offered
any shelter for the night, and the means of making a fire to dry our
clothes. But no such place presenting itself, we were at last content
to take up a station amongst a few stunted Driedoorns% (Threethorns)
the largest of which was not higher than three feet. Here, exposed
upon the bare open plain, we passed the night.
* Antilope Oryx.
t ^he name of Gemsbok belongs properly to the Antilope rupicapra of Europe, the
Chamois of the Alps. By the same misuse of names, the Kanna of the Cape Colony is
called Eland, which is the proper name of the Cervus Alces or Elk. So also is the name
of a common European animal, the Reebolc or Roebuck, applied to two animals of another
genus, and which are found only in Southern Africa.
t Rhigozwn trichotonvum j described in the 1st volume, at page 299.