4o6 A HUNTER'S WANDERINGS ch. 



striking north-north-east under the guidance of two 

 Bushmen, reached a fountain just before sunset. 

 This fountain is called "Nwongwe." On the way 

 from the river to this place I shot an eland cow. In 

 the evening of the following day we made another 

 trek to the north-east. 



On May 2 2 we inspanned early and trekked 

 across some immense open flats, devoid of bush, and 

 full of small brack-pans, reaching three small pools 

 of water about mid-day. The latter of these is called 

 Cum-Karekoo by the Masaras, and Renaka Cocone 

 (wildebeest's horn) by the Bamangwatos. Soon after 

 we had started I saw from the waggons two giraffe 

 cows, each with a last year's calf, walking across the 

 open flat, so, saddling up Bob, I went and shot one 

 of them, bringing her right up to the waggons, on 

 which we outspanned, cut off a good supply of meat, 

 and then trekked on again to the pan. On the way 

 Miller shot a springbuck and a wild cat. I also 

 wounded a springbuck, but lost it. In a dry pan 

 close to where we outspanned, we saw a large herd 

 of blue wildebeests and zebras, and innumerable 

 springbucks. 



In the afternoon we again trekked on, and a little 

 before sunset reached a pit with a good deal of water 

 in it, where we found a lot of Bushmen living. 

 This water had a most foul and disgusting smell and 

 taste, which boiling did not modify, as tea made from 

 it was undrinkable. During the trek we saw a troop 

 of ostriches from the waggons, so Miller and I saddled 

 up the horses and went after them. We found there 

 were nine ostriches, four cocks amongst them — and 

 an old blue wildebeest bull. We had a good spin 

 after them, but without success. The short thorny 

 bush through which they led us was very awkward 



