36 EXPEDITION INTO [Chap. V. 



o'clock, by an intimation from our landlord that he 

 was about to proceed to bed. 



After great solicitation on the following day, the 

 Commandant consented to dispose of one hundred 

 of his wether sheep to us, but in the end did not 

 supply us with more than sixty. These we pur- 

 chased from him at three Rix dollars per head, and 

 being on the opposite side of the river, their transit 

 across the stream gave us the greatest trouble and 

 annoyance. No less than thirteen persons were 

 engaged in the attempt to bring them over, but it 

 was not until one of Mynheer's sons had brought a 

 large black goat, which headed the flock, and 

 strange to say took the water like a Newfoundland 

 dog, that we got them transported. On inquiry we 

 found that the old goat was a Palinurus frequently 

 employed for the purpose. I may here remark, that 

 although the Merino sheep has been introduced, the 

 Cape colonists continue to be attached to the African 

 breed, the large tails of which, composed of solid fat 

 which literally trails on the ground, producing a 

 luxury that is essential to the comfort and enjoy- 

 ment of every South African settler. 



