cipally of the natives, we had not intended taking for ourselves, more
of the meat than enough for a day or tw o: but, as another proof
of the improvident disposition of Hottentots, I discovered that my
people, satisfied with what they had eaten on the spot, were not
preparing to bring any away with them, till I ordered a quantity to
be loaded up for at least my own use, as the meat of the second,
seemed, as a change of food, more wholesome, and of a better taste,
than our mutton. These foolish men thought only of the brandy
and tobacco which they were to get by selling their shamboks at
Graaffreynet, and therefore had cut up the hide of both the animals,
into strips for this purpose.
Although so chilling at sunrise, the weather had, by noon,
changed to the opposite extreme. Exposed in the middle of a dry
plain, where not a tree to afford shade was to be seen, I scarcely
could endure the rays of the sun, which poured down, as it were, a
shower offire upon us. At this time I began to feel symptoms of fever
from the cold which I had taken in the night, and this, probably,
might render me less capable of supporting the heat of the weather ;
yet I viewed with astonishment the bare-headed and naked Bushmen,
who seemed to be not in the least incommoded by it.
When I had; finished my drawings, and the Hottentots had
loaded up as many shamboks as the oxen could carry, we left the
natives busily employed in cutting up their meat; and returned to
the place of the first rhinoceros. Here I assembled all my own
people, and, as soon as they had taken another meal as a farewell to
their game, and had packed up another quantity of the hide, we set
out on our return home to the kraal.
In our way we met a large party of the natives, men and women,
who, joyously greeting us as they passed, told us they were going
to their friends at the rhinoceros, to lend their assistance: that is ;
to eat and feast, day and night, till they had consumed the whole of it.
We did not reach home till twilight had ended. I now found
my fever much increased: I therefore adopted the remedy which
had on similar occasions been found successful, and which consisted
merely in drinking a quantity of hot tea immediately on going
to bed. Some additional bushes were cut, and placed so as better to
keep off the wind; and this precaution, in addition to the remedy,
induced a degree of perspiration which, in the course of the night,
considerably abated the disorder.
9th. I still considered it prudent to remain thus wrapped up
all the morning; but as the weather presented every appearance of
continuing fine all day, I resolved to proceed on our journey.
At five in the afternoon we departed, bearing with us the goodwill
of a whole kraal; to whom we had given perhaps greater happiness
than it had been their lot to experience, for a long time. They
were much pleased when I assured them it was my intention to return
by the same route in a few weeks; and Riizo, who now informed
me that this was the kraal to which he properly belonged,
although residing at so great a distance as at the Gariep where we first
met with him, was particularly instructed by Kaabi to remain with
us until we reached the country of the white-men. One of his
companions, who had hitherto been our chief attendant, and who was
to remain at the kraal, now took his leave of us.