DISEASES OF CATTLE " BLOOD-SICKNESS." 229 



greatest peculiarity of these animals is their color, which is 

 of every hue and tint. 



Cattle are subject to several diseases. The most common 

 and dangerous is that which affects the throat, and which 

 invariably proves fatal. Cataracts on the eye, frequently 

 followed by blindness and swelling of the feet, are also very 

 common ailments. 



Sheep often die from the blood conglomerating in divers 

 places under the skin, which is called the " blood-sickness." 

 It is even asserted that man is affected by this disease (some- 

 times from partaking of the flesh of the infected animal), and 

 that the only thing to save him under such circumstances is 

 instantly to cut away the parts affected. 



CHAPTER XIX. 



Dispatch a Messenger to Cape-Town. — Depart from Barmen. — Eik- 

 hams. — Eyebrecht. — Depart from Eikhams. — Elephant Fountain. — 

 Tunobis. — Enormous quantities of Game. — Shooting by Night at 

 the " Skarm." — The Author has several narrow Escapes. — Checked 

 in attempt to reach the Ngami. — The Part}^ set out on their Return. 

 — Reach Elephant Fountain. — How to make Soap. — Pitfalls. — A 

 night Adventure. — Game scarce. — Join Hans.— The Party nearly 

 poisoned. — Arrival at Walfisch Bay. — A tub Adventure. — Extraor- 

 dinary Mortality among the Fish. — Author narrowly escapes Drown- 

 ing. — Arrival of the Missionary Vessel. — Letters from Home. — Mr. 

 Galton returns to Europe. — Reflections. 



The vessel which brought the missionary stores to Walfiscli 

 Bay every second year was expected in December, and by 

 this opportunity we hoped to be able to return to Europe, 

 or at least to the Cape. In order, however, to insure a pas- 

 sage, Mr. Galton dispatched a messenger to his banker in 

 Cape-Town to make the needful arrangements. In the 

 mean time, as we had still several months on our hands, 

 Galton resolved to employ the interval in making an excur- 



