THE RATE OF BULLOCK TRECKING. 221 



the dwellers on the plain is composed, is soft and 

 capable of being dressed with a sharp knife ; that of 

 the mountain animal is as hard as iron, a proof of how 

 wise all-seeing Nature is in adapting her creatures to 

 their respective habitats. Another beautiful creature 

 to be found along this route, but more numerous on 

 the edge of the desert, is the Kerns bok (anglict gems 

 buck). It is massive in form, generally about thirteen 

 hands high, and of the softest fawn colour, interspersed 

 with nearly equal proportions of dark iron grey and 

 cream-colour. This charming animal's face is particu- 

 larly attractive : with a near approach to black for a 

 ground-work, a broad white blaze passes from its 

 muzzle round each side of the eyes to the ear, while its 

 head is decorated with two straight horns, frequently 

 three and a half feet long, deeply corrugated at the 

 base, but as smooth as needles and almost as sharp 

 towards the tips. The Kerns bok has not unfrequently 

 been known to impale the lion, when the carcases of 

 both are found firmly attached to each other. Where- 

 ever you go, duiker and stein-bok (about the size of 

 roedeer) are to be found abundant. They worthily 

 help to fill the pot, and stewed are far from being a 

 bad concomitant in making up a satisfactory meal. 

 Such game as I have described was daily seen or killed 

 by myself or servants on my numerous journeys up 

 country, but, so far, on this special occasion, although 

 hourly looked for, not a giraffe had been sighted. 

 William, my Griqua driver, consoled me with the in- 

 formation, " Wait till we get to Mahalapsi, certain to 

 find camilest there, never passed it in my life without 

 finding plenty there/' 



At length Mahalapsi was reached, after a most 

 trying treck through the heaviest sand I know of 

 in that part of the world. It was cruel work upon 

 the bullocks, for, although there were eighteen of 

 these patient animals in the yoke of each waggon, 

 still their progress could scarcely have been faster 



