A KARROO FARM. 259 



to them that welcome sound meant " fingerpoll," 

 and briskly they all straightway returned and followed 

 the driver a short distance, to where some of the 

 much-loved plant grew. There they patiently 

 waited while their provider cut up and prepared 

 the luxury, and finally fell to with keen and hearty 

 appetites, as their crisp crunchings plainly told. 



We have a ride of several miles before us to the 

 foot of yonder Witteberg ; and accordingly, putting 

 our nags to a canter, we rapidly get over the ground, 

 rough and uneven, and studded here and there with 

 meercat or ant-bear holes, though it is. The sun, 

 now well overhead, shines warm and brilliantly ; 

 still it is not too hot, there is a pleasant breeze out, 

 and the clear air is full of sparkle and exhilaration. 

 Upon these high karroos, even in the fiery intensity 

 of the hot season, life is not unbearable, and when 



"The sultry summer noon is past, 

 And mellow evening comes at last, 

 With a low and languid breeze, 

 Fanning the mimosa trees." 



the nights are cool, and sleep, welcome and 

 refreshing to the sun-baked Vee-Boer, is obtained. 



Far away to our right front there is a deep, dark 

 indentation in the mountain range. That is Beer 

 Vley, or De Beer's Vley, a pass from the karroo 

 well-known to ancient travellers. Here Barrow 

 rested and refreshed his cattle, and before him the 

 lively Le Vaillant. Here amid the reeds and long 

 grasses was slain, not so many years ago, the last 

 lion known in this locality. 



Presently, as we near the mountain and 

 approached some thicker clumps of bush that 

 begin to clothe the veldt, a sharp, fierce bark from 



