INSPAKNING. 37 



capable of inflicting most tremendous chastisement 

 upon the. thick hides of sulky and refractory oxen. 

 Those manufactured from the skin of the hippopotamus 

 are very much superior to those of the rhinoceros, being 

 naturally of a much tougher quality. If properly pre- 

 pared, one of these will last for many years. A smaller 

 description of "jambok" is manufactured for the benefit 

 of horses, and may be seen in the hands of every horse- 

 man in the colony. 



When the leader brings up the oxen to the wagon to 

 be inspanned, the wagon-driver, if possible, sends an- 

 other Hottentot to his assistance, especially if any of 

 the oxen in the span happen to be young or refractory. 

 These, armed with a huge "jambok" in one hand, and 

 a handful of stones in the other, one on either flank, 

 with shouts, yells, and imprecations, urge forward the 

 unwilling team toward the yokes, where the driver is 

 standing with the twelve long buffalo rheims hanging 

 on his left arm, pouring forth a volley of soothing 

 terms, such as, "Ah ! now, Scotland ! Wo ha, Blau- 

 berg I you skellum, keer dar Carollus for Blauberg, ye 

 stand somar da, ich wichna wha yo hadachta ist." 

 (Turn there for Blauberg ; you stand there in an ab- 

 sent state, I do not know where your ideas are.) 

 " Holland, yon ould INIyfooty ! (" Myfooty" is a com- 

 mon Hottentot term, which I would defy even them- 

 selves to construe. The Dutch word " somar," men- 

 tioned above, is also a word to which I think I could 

 challenge the most learned schoolmaster in the colony 

 to attach any definite meaning. It is used both by 

 Boers and Hottentots in almost every sentence; it is 

 an answer to every question ; and- its meanings are 

 endless.) " Slangfelt, you neuxel I" (Snak</icld, you 

 humbug !) " Wo ha, now, Creishmann ! (Crocked 



