HUNTING IN SOUTHERN AFRICA. 197 



no bush presenting itself which could shelter him for a mo- 

 ment during the long march, from the scorching rays of a 

 vertical sun, he had sought an asylum beneath the wagon, 

 the wheels of which passed over his body. For many days 

 past the feet of our canine companions had suffered greatly 

 from their contact with the heated earth ; and, in some in- 

 stances, had become perfectly raw. Ever and anon the un- 

 fortunate animals would voluntarily present a paw, and, with 

 a supplicating whine, solicit another dressing of the tar and 

 fat composition used for greasing the axletrees from the 

 application of which they experienced temporary relief. 



" In order to recruit the exhausted strength of the oxen, 

 we halted a day at Great Chooi, another extensive salt-lake, 

 which we reached early the following morning. No pen can 

 describe the scene that here took place. The Hottentots, 

 having first mutinied against Richardson, deputed Andries 

 who advanced to me with a step of defiance to acquaint me 

 with their determination not to obey his orders : the contracts 

 at Graaff Reinet having, to save trouble, been made in my 

 name only. The discussion having been suppressed by me, 

 led to a disagreement among themselves ; they fought with 

 inconceivable fury for half an hour, and were with difficulty 

 prevented from murdering each other. With blood streaming 

 from many a ghastly wound, they at length retired to ablute 

 themselves, and returned better friends than ever. The en- 

 gagement had been witnessed by a party of savages, who 

 carried umbrellas of ostrich feathers, twisted round a long 

 stick so as to resemble the nodding plumes of a hearse. In 

 honor of their own courageous bearing, the Hottentots pur- 

 chased a number of these for a small piece of tobacco, and 

 binding them round their hats, strutted forth knights of the 

 sable plume. 



" The scattered inhabitants of this part of the country are 

 remnants of various Bechuana tribes, which have been con- 

 quered by Moselekatse and consist principally of Barolong, 



17* 



