THE RIET RIVER. 153 



CHAPTER IX. 



Th'j Riet River — Nomade Boer Encampments — Surly Reieption at a 

 Boer's Farm — Lions slain by tlie Boers — Cowardice of the Boers in 

 Lion Hunting — Rumors of War between the Boers and Griquas— 

 The Mirage of the Plains — Habits of the Blesbok — A knowing old 

 . Hog — A Snake under my Pillow — A Troop of Wild Dogs come upon 

 me at Night in my Shooting-hole — The Roar of Lions — Curious Facts 

 concerning them. 



We inspanned before the dawn of day on the 23d of 

 February, and after steering east and by north for a 

 distance of about twelve miles, we found ourselves on 

 the southern bank of the Riet River, where we out- 

 spanned. Along the banks, both above and below me, 

 several families of the nomade Boers were encamped 

 with their tents and wagons. Their overgrown flocks 

 and herds were grazing on the plains and grassy hill 

 sides around. Five of these Boers presently came up 

 to my wagons, and drank coffee with me. They seem- 

 ed much amused with the details of my sporting ad- 

 ventures, which I was now able to give them in broken 

 Dutch, in which language, from lately hearing no other 

 spoken, I was daily becoming more proficient. On 

 learning that I had not as yet enjoyed any blesbok 

 shooting, they said they were certain I should be de- 

 lighted with the sport. The borders of the country in- 

 habited by the blesboks they stated to be about four 

 days distant in a northeasterly direction, and that, on 

 reaching it, I should fall in with those antelopes in 

 countless herds, along with black wildebeest, spring- 

 bok, and ether game. The Boers supplied me liberally 



G 2 



