318 THE GREAT THIRST LAND. 



The observer cannot help noticing how many of 

 these cattle want their tails, some having been deprived 

 of them so high up that only a rudimentary stump is 

 left. There are two ways of accounting for this hyaenas 

 and vaccination, the tail being the part chosen for 

 inoculating against lung-sickness. 



But, by Jove, do you hear that clatter? It must 

 be a troop of cavalry coming up the kloof; no, it is 

 only their chargers. These are the horses of King 

 Kama, nearly a hundred in number, and all saulted. 

 To one only skilled in English horseflesh they look 

 rather a mixed lot, and so they are doubtlessly, still 

 there is not one among them that has cost less than sixty 

 pounds, many one hundred and twenty. 



Of one thing you may be certain, all with the 

 exception of one or two antediluvians can perform the 

 most extraordinary journeys, although they know no 

 other food than the grass of the velt. They are not fat 

 nor yet lean, but in that kind of hard, serviceable 

 condition a hunter gets towards the end of the season. 



But having done with the horses, let us take a 

 glance at the goats and sheep. The former resemble 

 what may be seen every day at home, but the sheep 

 well, unless you were informed of it, you might imagine 

 that they belonged to a genus only lately discovered. 

 They are generally white with black heads, very tall, 

 thin stilt -like legs, very large pendulous ears, no horns, 

 hair instead of wool, and their tail about the size of a 

 small pillow, and not unlike it in shape hangs down 

 nearly to the hocks, having a queer diminutive termina- 

 tion of periwinkle form. They are both obstinate and 

 pugnacious. I have watched two fight, which would 

 probably have ultimately killed each other if they had 



