Only one of the Bushmen had kept up with us; all the rest
having parted company during the rain. As soon as we halted, his
chief care was to make a call to his companions, to inform them
where we were; and for this purpose he continued for some time at
intervals to blow his pipe. This was nothing more than the tibia, or
shin-bone, of one of the smaller antelopes, into which he blew at one
end, in the manner of a ‘ Pan’s reed.’ It produced an exceedingly
sharp and shrill.sound, which might easily, in so open a plain, have
been heard at a great distance. To this noise we added a shout from
our whole party at once.
But these signals were not answered, nor did any of the Bushmen
join us that night; having either missed our track in the rain,
or preferred remaining under shelter during the heavy showers. As
two of the women were loaded, each with an infant at her back, I
could not but feel compassion for them, exposed all night, perhaps
without shelter, food, or fire. I was, however, wrong in measuring
their sufferings by the standard of European hardships: they are
accustomed, from their birth, to such a mode of life, and have been
gradually inured to all the inclemencies of the weather. They feel,
possibly, much less of these hardships than we may suppose ; because
they are never made sensible of them by the contrast of luxuries enjoyed
at other times. But to a European, the case is widely different;
and some powerful feelings of the mind are required for supporting
the body through all the inconveniences and privations of savage life.
The rain had ceased ; but lightning at a distance in every quarter,
made us to look around for materials to form some shelter from the
gathering storm ; but nothing could be found suitable to this purpose,
and the threethorns, being scantily furnished with leaves, were not
better than dead' sticks. Our cattle supped sufficient water from the
puddles, but we ourselves remained without any till the morning.
Philip and Nieuwveld were sent to explore a narrow beaten
track which had been made by the wild animals. From the long-
trodden appearance of this path, we knew that it would conduct us
ultimately to 'water, but in the dusk of the evening, they were unable
to discover the right direction,- and unfortunately took that which
carried them farther from it; for, in the morning, it was found close
at hand on the opposite side.
In this wet and cheerless state, and to console them for the disappointment,
the Hottentots begged that the remainder of the brandy
might now be distributed; and, heedless of the prospect of being
more in want of it than at present, seemed glad at any excuse for
asking for it.
We spread our skins and bedding upon the wet ground; and, if
Wantroww felt the advantage of being my favorite, I now reaped the
benefit of being h is; for he slept so close to my feet that I passed
the night without the least inconvenience from cold, although my
blankets were covered with a heavy dew.
Under my saddle, which at night was always used as a pillow, I
found in the morning that two lizards, induced also by the warmth,
had taken their lodging. Harmless as I judged them to be, and little
as these creatures excited any apprehension, they could not but remind
me that I was now exposed to the risk of sometimes having
more dangerous bedfellows — snakes and scorpions.
2nd. At sunrise we were joined by Kaabi and his companions.
This man seemed to be about the age of forty; sedate, and rather
reserved in his manners : but his wife could not have been more than
fifteen, and among Bushwomen might certainly pass as pretty. Her
height was less than five feet, and her figure proportionally delicate.
Her face was plump and oval; and, owing to her youth, had
not yet begun to exhibit that peculiar Hottentot feature; the narrow
pointed chin. Her eyes were remarkable for being bright and open;
a beauty which is never retained beyond the days of youth; as constant
exposure to the winds, and the glare of light in a dry open
country, soon induce the habit of always keeping their eyelids halfclosed.
She wore a leathern cap ornamented with beads, in the
manner represented by the engraving at the head of this chapter*,
* The figures there, of two young women of the Cisgariepine tribe of Bushmen, are
intended for giving a general idea of their dress and appearance.
VOL. n . e The