CHAPTER III 



THE SAND-DUNES OF THE DESERT 



It was my good fortune a short time ago to take 

 a journey along the southern border of the 

 Kalahari Desert, across that immense tract of 

 country which is now known as the district of 

 Gordonia. And in order that readers may form 

 a true picture in their own minds of this little- 

 known portion of the Union of South Africa, 

 I think it best to give them my diary just as I 

 wrote it on the spot, feeling sure that they will 

 pardon any lack of style for the sake of the 

 simplicity of a traveller's notebook. I hope 

 that my diary may prove of some use as a guide 

 and time-table to all who have to traverse this 

 desolate region. There is an urgent need of a 

 desert handbook. Not a single season passes 

 but some brave life is lost on the sand-dunes 

 of the desert. In this chapter I shall describe 

 my journey from Upington, on the Orange 

 River, to Rietfontein, on the German border. 

 My fellow-trekkers consisted of three men and 

 six mules, each of whom deserves honourable 

 mention in the desert " Who's Who." 



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