158 



ADVENTURES IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



I had now reached the borders of a country dilFering 

 entirely from any I had hitherto seen. The sweet 

 grass, which had heretofore been so abundant, became 

 very scarce, being succeeded by short, crisp, sour pas- 

 turage, which my cattle and horses refused to eat. A 

 supply of forage for these, however, could generally be 

 obtained by driving them to the stony hillocks and rocky 

 mountain ranges which at various distances from one 

 another intersected the champaign country. The plains 

 were firm and hard, and admirably suited for riding ; 

 they were pastured short and bare by the endless herds 

 of game which from time immemorial had held posses- 

 sion of these extensive domains. Although intersected 

 occasionally by mountain ranges, these plains often ex- 

 tend to amazing distances, without any landmark to 

 break the monotony of their boundless and ocean-like 

 expanse. At other times the eye is relieved by one or 

 more abrupt pyramidal or cone-shaped hills, which serve 

 as a landmark to the hunter, whereby to regain his 

 encampment after the excitement of the chase. 



When the sun is powerful, which it is during the 

 greater part of the year, an enduring mirage dances 

 on the plain wherever the hunter turns his bewildered 

 eyes. This mirage restricts the range of vision to a 

 very moderate distance, and is very prejudicial to cor- 

 rect rifle-shooting. The effect produced by this optical 

 illusion is remarkable : hills and herds of game often 

 appear as if suspended in mid air. Dry and sun-baked 

 vleys, or pans covered with a crystallized efflorescence, 

 constantly delude the thirsty traveler with the prospect 

 of water ; and more than once I have ridden toward a 

 couple of springboks, magnified a hundred-fold, which 

 I had mistaken for the white tilts of ray wagons. This 

 vast tract of bare, sour pasturage, which is peculiarly 



