BOTANICAL. INFORMATION. 433 



of diet, for we felt quite loathed with constant subsistence on 

 flesh-meat. 



After remaining in this neighbourhood rather more than a 

 week, it was decided that Mr. Zeyher should return to Mac- 

 alisberg with the few animals that we have captured, for they 

 become daily weaker, because we have not milk enough to 

 give them. The goats and cows left there must have had 

 their young ones ere now, and Mr. Zeyher will send back 

 the waggon in which he travels thither as quickly as possible 

 for me. One young Hottentot volunteers to be my companion, 

 and we shall keep the horses in case of being obliged to leave 

 this place before the waggon returns. A thunderstorm came 

 °n, and the young male eland suffered so much from its 

 effects, that he died next morning. I always give the young 

 ammals a draught of warm milk and water at midnight, and 

 Jt should be milk alone, which would be better for them, if 

 we had enough of it. Mr. Zeyher set off, taking the three 

 remaining elands and a giraffe. For three days after the 

 departure of the waggon, we were free from the visits of the 

 natives; but on the 20th, nine of these wretched creatures 

 arrived, tormenting us for food, which we had not to give, 

 and obliging us to keep an incessant watch, or they would 

 steal the horses, the blankets, and anything they can lay 

 hold of. 



On the 22nd we caught a young male sassaby. That even- 

 ]n g the waggon returned, and Punyer came with it. He tells 

 me th at the giraffe died just as Mr. Zeyher got it to Macalis- 

 )er S ; that we have lost nearly all the goats and many of the 

 s heep, those which remain being in a wretched condition. 

 0n e ox has died and another was lost, and a pair of lions 

 came at night and carried off one of the elands. To complete 

 their misfortunes, the grass round our waggons at Macalis- 

 ber g was fired by an emigrant farmer, and everything must 

 have been destroyed, if Punyer and all the Hottentots had 

 not ha Ppened to be on the spot, and also a good many natives, 

 w ho assisted in saving our property. With much labour the 

 Wa ggons were extricated. A chest, containing 100 lbs. of 



