164 THE GREAT THIRST LAND. 



at least, I have never known the last for always there 

 is a ray of light left, possibly only a feeble shred, such 

 as we see in the west long after the sun has set. 



The ferryman would have a bottle of brandy ; I was 

 equally resolved he should not, for our supply was 

 limited, and it was determined to keep it solely for 

 medicinal purposes. As we owed this man two pounds, 

 when we came to settle the bill a bottle of brandy in 

 part payment was asked he would allow ten shillings 

 for it. " No, I would not part with any." But when 

 he would deduct a pound if I would comply with his 

 wishes, and he pathetically added that his wife was 

 very sick, I gave in. The last part of his entreaty did 

 the business, and Henessey's three star French was 

 transferred to this Boer Charon, who, by the way, was a 

 very civil fellow, and spoke a good deal of English. But 

 although the wagon was over, the worst part of the job 

 had still to be done to get the cattle across ; and to 

 save expense they were to swim. Consequently, round 

 the whole bunch of bullocks a cordon of Kaffirs and 

 Boers crowded, and by degrees they were forced 

 nearer and nearer the water; but in our team was 

 one perverse ox, Poonah by name, who the moment 

 you had him, as you thought, safe, would charge 

 through the line and go scampering over the country, 

 with all the naked Kaffirs in pursuit, and a pretty 

 dance he would lead them, till both he and they 

 were perfectly exhausted, when he would return in 

 the most submissive way, join the other cattle, and ask 

 sympathy from them, as if he were the most abused 

 beast in the world, and his comrades were certain to 

 give it. I think four times that evening Master Poonah 

 successfully practised this game, and as he figures much 



