50 KLOOF AND KARROO. 



grass spring up reluctantly, offering our cattle a 

 scanty sustenance ; the other sides are bounded by 

 steep and craggy rocks, whose appearance is not 

 less dreary." This was the impression, doubtless, 

 of a traveller wearied and disgusted by a fatiguing 

 trek during great drought ; for the karroo is mainly 

 composed of rich soil, not sand, and, as I have 

 pointed out, the vegetation by no means consists of 

 "rank, unwholesome weeds." Still, I must admit, 

 that even at the present day karroo travelling in 

 summer and times of drought is exceedingly trying. 

 We jogged merrily along, under clear unclouded 

 skies, till we reached Hoog Kraal, on the Sunday 

 River, where we made our first outspan. Here we 

 breakfasted on ham, cold eggs, and cold tea, which 

 we had taken the precaution to bring with us in 

 Silver and Co.'s excellent vulcanite water-bottles. 

 These bottles, covered with felt, which, when 

 damped, renders the liquid within wonderfully cool 

 even on the hottest day, we found simply invaluable 

 in our hunting expeditions later on. As a proof of 

 their excellence, I may mention that I have several 

 times sent them out to colonial friends at their 

 particular request, since my return to England. It is 

 so difficult to get hold of a good water-bottle for a 

 hot climate, that I may be excused for referring so 

 particularly to these most excellent inventions. At 

 the water here we shot a brace of the pretty so- 

 called Namaqua partridge (Pterocles tachypetes), the 

 common sand-grouse of the Colony, which at early 

 morning and evening may be seen at streams and 

 fountains in very large numbers. Although a true 

 member of the sub-family, Pteroclituz, or sand-grouse, 

 its shrill cry and flight very much resembles the 



