66 



ADVENTURES IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



of black wildebeest and springbok were to be seen piled 

 in heaps and scattered about the out-houses of the 

 farm. Adjoining the house was a well-watered garden, 

 with very green trees and corn in it, which formed a 

 most pleasing contrast with the surrounding barren 

 country. 



Having directed my men to proceed to the next farm 

 along the banks of the Brak River, I rode forth with 

 Cobus and held a northerly course across the flats. I 

 soon perceived herds of springbok in every direction, 

 which, on ray following at a hard gallop, continued to 

 join one another until the whole plain seemed alive with 

 them. Upon our crossing a sort of ridge on the plain, 

 I beheld the whole country, as far as my eye could 

 reach, actually white with springboks, with here and 

 there a herd of black gnoos or wildebeest, prancing and 

 capering in every direction, whirling and lashing their 

 white tails as they started off in long files on our ap- 

 proach. Having pursued them for many hours, and 

 fired about a dozen shots at these and the springboks 

 at distances of from four to six hundred yards, and 

 only wounded one, which I lost, I turned my horse's 

 head for the camp. The evening set in dark and low- 

 ering, with rattling thunder and vivid flashes of light- 

 ning on the surrounding hills. I accordingly rode hard 

 for my wagon, which I just reached in time to escape 

 a deluge of rain which lasted all night. The Brak 

 River came down a red foaming torrent, but fell very 

 rapidly in the morning. This river is called Brak from 

 the flavor of its waters, v/hich, excepting in the rainy 

 season, are barely palatable. ]My day's sport, although 

 unsuccessful, was most exciting. I did not feel much 

 mortified at ray want of success, for I was well aware 

 that recklessly jaging after the game in the manner in 



