OXEN WISE BEYOND REPUTE. 191 



with me. Even Poonah, ever in mischief as heretofore, 

 and none the less frisky than formerly, will permit me 

 to scratch his forehead and flank. Morris's almost last 

 wish was that a lion would jump him ; that event shall 

 not take place if I can help it. 



Oxen are wondrous wise beasts very much more so 

 than a casual observer would give them credit for ; that 

 they can speak to one another, or, at least, have means 

 of communicating their thoughts to each other, I have 

 no doubt. Watch them when unyoked, and listen to 

 the lowing that takes place, or the guttural, suppressed 

 noises they utter, the one waiting for his companions till 

 all are untied, when the appointed leader takes the front 

 and all follow after. The rogue and most unmanageable 

 in my team is Ackerman ; in appearance he is the most 

 docile of the docile grave and staid as becomes his age ; 

 but only let him get a chance to run the wagon into a 

 hole and he is certain to do it, or if the herd-boy should 

 be out of sight, and a mealy garden within view, with 

 a couple of wheezy bellows, meaning " Come along, 

 boys," he makes off for a foray upon the tempting grain. 



The nature of the velt is become quite altered, for 

 every here and there are patches of timber, mixed with 

 bush, to the extent frequently of several acres ; also 

 slightly elevated ridges crop up, covered with loose and 

 very much decayed sandstone, while between the de- 

 tached blocks creepers of unknown length twine, covered 

 with the most punishing thorns. In these little covers 

 the stein-buck and diker-buck find a shelter, and if the 

 wanderer had with him well-bred greyhounds he might 

 enjoy splendid coursing. 



As numerous wildebeest grazed within easy distance, 

 I took my Martini- Henry and endeavoured to get within 



