•775- extremely fcarce there. In confequence of this latter cir- cumftance, as his provifxons were almoft entirely fpent, he w asjuft going to knock one of his draught-oxen on the head, by way of' procuring food for himfelf and his fuite, when two hartbeefts by great good-luck came up directly to the waggon, in order to take a view of it, one of which he immediately ihot. This fame peafant had unexpectedly met on this road with about an hundred wandering Caffres. Their patriarch or chief, had propofed to ileep the firft night along with the farmer in his waggon, who, on the other hand, fhould fleep with him in his tent the night following. This the farmer not confenting to, the Caffre patriarch was fo far from taking it ill, that, on the contrary, he had killed an ox, and prefented the farmer and his fuite with fome fine pieces o f beef. The boor likewife informed me, that the Gaffre cattle were uncommonly fat and in good condition; at which he was the more furprized, as they were not turned out till noon, and driven home very early. He, moreover, obferved, that the Caffres fondled and talked, to their cattle a good deal as they ftood in the craal; doubtlefs, in the fame manner as the Arabians do to their horfes; which not a little contributes to making them thrive and rendering them briik and lively, and at the fame time more intelligent and tradable. On the 3d we baited at noon near Galge-bafcb, a little wood which was much frequented by lions, and ftill more by buffaloes. I was confequently more than ever in pain for my cattle, as, though there was very good pafturage on the fpot, they had ftolen away from it, and were miffing miffing for feveral hours. In the mean time, we were apprehenfive, that they had been feared away from the place by lions; but the fad was, that being very thirfty* they had ffrayed into a dale towards a pit full o f very muddy water, where they were found. My Hottentots were of opinion, that cattle would find out water by the fcent at a very great diftance. I have heard fome colonifts fay, that they fufpeded the fame o f the'Hottentots, as they can find water upon occafion better than any colonifts; but this cannot proceed from any thing elfe. than the Hottentots greater affiduity in this point, and being more accuftomed to wander about the fields, by which means they have acq u i r e d a particular fkilb in tracing out this neceffary article of life from certain peculiarities o f fituation, and various other circumftances. Indeed, we could get nothing fit to drink ourfelves; and it was late-at night before, thirfty as we were, we got to a land-fpring; which, to our great vexation, we found dried up; fo that there were only here and there in the mire a print of the buffaloes feet deeper than ordinary, in which we obferved a little moifture. We therefore dug, deeper holes with our hands, and waited with all the patience we were mafters of, till the water was collected in. them, and could be taken out by means of fmall ba- ibns. But befides that it was as thick as hafty-pudding, it had acquired fo rank a tafte from the buffaloes that had laid and wallowed in it, that even the Hottentots made wry faces at it ; and our horfes began to blow and fnort at the ftrong bufialo-fcent which affeCted their noftrils, even before they tafted- the water. Our thirft, however, obliged us
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