and was not without some personal vanity, as may be concluded from
her wearing a great number of leathern bracelets, and a pair of cowry
shells hanging from her forehead, similar to the ivory ornaments
described on a former occasion *; and to which was added a large
copper ring in each ear. The beads, which were displayed upon her
cap, were arranged not without some taste, and with great attention
to regularity. Her child, of which she was very careful and fond,
seemed to be at least eight months old, and was never, during the
whole day, removed from her back. It was supported there by one of
the hinder aprons, turned up and tied over the shoulder; and in
this situation the poor little infant was suckled, by bringing its head
forward under the mother’s arm.
At her back also she carried a roll of skins : these being spread
on the ground at night, served both for bedding and for a protection
from the dampness of the earth. To this load were added a sifting-
mat, and three sticks about five feet in length, used either for assisting
in walking, or for digging up the wild roots which she might
happen to observe on the way.
These sifting-mats are about three feet long and two broad, extended
by a stick tied along each side, and by others fastened to them
transversely. They are made in the same manner as other mats,
excepting that the rushes are not so close together. When a spot of
ground is met with, where abundance of little roots are to be foundt,
the earth is broken up and carefully sifted with these mats; by which
The figure on the right hand is represented with a leathern kaross wrapped close
aboiit her, as it is usually held in cold weather. The cap is also of leather, and ornamented
with beads, as here described. In her ear are two small copper ornaments of
Bichuana manufacture, better represented in the 37th vignette, and more particularly
explained in that place.
The figure on the left is clothed in a sheep-skin kaross; and wears a copper ring in
each ear, two cowry' shells pendent from a lock of hair on her forehead, and a row of
buttons surrounding the head and fixed also to the hair. The crown of the head is
shaved bare; this being considered a very becoming fashion for girls and young women.
f* VTohle. Ir.o poatsg eo f4 1C4y.perus usitatus, called Boschmaris uyentjes, (see Vol. I. p. 417.) are
those which are most plentiful in this part of the country.
contrivance a quantity of such small roots are collected in a much
shorter time than could possibly be done by digging them up singly
with the stick.
Just as we were beginning to pack up our baggage, we were
suddenly surprised by a sound from a distance, which all of us believed,
or rather fancied, to be the report of a musket. Thinking it might
possibly be a signal from some one sent after us by captain Berends,
we fired a gun in answer; but as no reply was made, I sent off
Speelman, Daniel, and Hendrik in that direction to reconnoitre, and
ascertain if any person with fire-arms was on that side. But in less
than an hour they returned without discovering any traces of strangers ;
and we at last were satisfied that we had mistaken the sound. Yet
I continued, for a day or two, a little uneasy at the circumstance,
until convinced that it could only be a mistake; since no stranger
could come into the country of the Bushmen, without his arrival
being immediately known to them.
We had at this time advanced much beyond the farthest point
to which the Klaarwater Hottentots had ever extended their huntings
; and Hans and Cobus, the most experienced of our party, considered
that we were now on unexplored ground. We became
therefore the more watchful and observant of every occurrence connected
with our safety and success.
We departed from Drie-doom station at eight in the morning,
and continued our course over a plain as level and boundless as the
ocean, excepting on the west, where the rocky mountains near Mod-
der-gat interrupted the evenness of the horizon; and before us,
where the Nappika mountain, and the very distant summits of the
Hyena mountains, presented a faint object on which the sight could
rest. These latter are distinguished by the natives, with a name of
correspondent import in their language, but which in our hurry I
neglected writing down.
I here, for the first time, had an opportunity of observing that
singular phenomenon and optical illusion, of the appearance of
water, which has often been seen in the deserts of Northern Africa.
It exactly resembled a distant and extensive lake, receding from us
e 2