Q4 SOUTH AFRICA. 



of available tsamma and an occasional pool of 

 rainwater, I was enabled to penetrate these 

 mysterious solitudes occasionally to some thirty 

 miles or so distant from my stationary camp near 

 permanent water but in the absence of the 

 necessary implements I was, of course, unable to 

 explore for water, and certainly found none on 

 the surface. 



The pasturage, especially among sand dunes, 

 was everywhere simply splendid, and grand sport 

 with gemsbuck, eland, and ostrich rewarded well 

 the risk and toil encountered. Giraffe were seen, 

 but we did not hunt them, as at that time the 

 waggons were heavily laden with meat and goods, 

 with which it was necessary to hurry on to camp 

 as fast as possible to avoid waste. During the 

 current year (1894) an exploring expedition, under 

 the auspices, I believe, of Mr. Rhodes, and con- 

 ducted by a Dutch Church minister, made a faint 

 attempt to penetrate the desert, principally with a 

 view to ascertain the capabilities of the country 

 bordered by the Botletle River for immigration 

 purposes. As I have said before, that part of the 

 country is, and must remain, unsuitable for 

 colonisation on account of the prevalence of fever 



