258 ADVENTURES IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



and strong, situated in a hollow at the eastern extrem* 

 ity of an extensive vley, and its margin was surround- 

 ed by a level stratum of solid old red sandstone. Here 

 and there lay a thick layer of soil upon the rock, and 

 this was packed flat with the fresh spoor of elephants. 

 Around the water's edge the very rock was worn down 

 by the gigantic feet which for ages had trodden there. 

 The soil of the surrounding country v>^as white and 

 yellow sand, but grass, trees, and bushes were abund- 

 ant. From the borders of the fountain a hundred well- 

 trodden elephant foot-paths led away in every direction, 

 like the radii of a circle. The breadth of these paths 

 was about three feet ; those leading to the northward 

 and east were the most frequented, the country in those 

 directions being well wooded. We drew up the wag- 

 ons on a hillock on the eastern side of the water. This 

 position commanded a good view of any game that 

 might approach to drink. I had just cooked my break- 

 fast, and commenced to feed, when I heard my men 

 exclaim, "Almagtig keek de ghroote clomp cameel;" 

 and, raising my eyes from my sassayby stew, I beheld a 

 truly beautiful and very unusual scene. From the mar- 

 gin of the fountain there extended an open level vley, 

 without a tree or bush, that stretched away about a 

 mile to the northward, where it was bounded by ex- 

 tensive groves of wide-spreading mimosas. Up the 

 middle of this vley stalked a troop of ten colossal gi- 

 raffes, flanked by two large herds of blue wildebeests 

 and zebras, with an advanced guard of pallahs. They 

 were all coming to the fountain to drink, and would be 

 within rifle-shot of the wagons before I could finish my 

 breakfast. I, however, continued to swallow my food 

 with the utmost expedition, having directed my men 

 to catch and saddle Colesberg. In a few minutes the 



