80 EXPEDITION INTO 



— the Field Commandant, g'ave the order for the onslaug-ht^ 

 and commenced his revel with an earnest. A scene of con- 

 g'lomeration and tobacco smoke ensued, from which we 

 were unceremoniously dismissed at 9 o'clock, by an intima- 

 tion from our landlord that he was about to proceed to bed. 

 After g-reat solicitation on the following- day, the Com- 

 mandant consented to dispose of one hundred of his wether 

 sheep to us, but in the end did not supply us with more than 

 sixty. These we purchased from him at three Rix dollars 

 per head, and being- on the opposite side of the river, their 

 transit across the stream g-ave us the g-reatest trouble and 

 annoyance. No less than thirteen persons were eng-ag-ed in 

 the attempt to bring- them over, but it was not until one of 

 Mynheer's sons had broug-ht a larg-e black g'oat, which 

 headed the flock, and strang-e to say took the water like a 

 Newfoundland dog-, that we g-ot them transported. On 

 inquiry we found that the old g-oat was a Palinurus fre- 

 quently employed for the purpose. I may here remark, that 

 althoug-h the Merino sheep has been introduced, the Cape 

 colonists continue to be attached to the African breed, the 

 larg-e tails of which, composed of solid fat which literally 

 trails on the g-round, producing- a luxury that is essential 

 to the comfort and enjoyment of every South African 

 settler. 



