266 EXPEDITION INTO [Chap. XXX. 



in his turn, less pleased at the increased prospect 

 of escape from a land so little suited to the preju- 

 dices of his caste. The bovine appearance of most 

 of the African animals having precluded this faith- 

 ful follower from partaking of their flesh, he had 

 suffered greater privations than any one, and had 

 not unfrequently been compelled to observe a fast. 

 Without a moment's loss of time, Kobus repaired 

 his dilapidated violin, which in a fit of passion he 

 had broken over a comrade's head; and a wild- 

 peppermint tea-party, with dancing to its discordant 

 notes round our gipsy fire, celebrated the approach- 

 ing termination of the campaign. 



At noon on the 16th of December, then, bidding 

 a final adieu to the enchanting forests of Cashan, 

 we turned our faces to the southward, and having 

 crossed a small range of hills, which were all that 

 divided us from the vast plains of the Vaal River, 

 entered at once upon a new region, totally different 

 in character from all that we had hitherto traversed. 

 Such had been the recent abundance of water, that 

 our people had for some time past allowed the 

 wholesome practice of filling the water-flagons to 

 fall into desuetude ; and we had in consequence the 

 felicity of passing the night without any of that 

 necessary, although we travelled until dark in the 

 hope of finding it. A ponderous bull eland, with 

 only one horn, being observed in the neighbour- 

 hood, Richardson and myself drove him up to the 

 caravan, where his blood was eagerly quaffed both 

 by the savages and Hottentots. 



