SOUTHERN AFRICA. 241 



telopes; a pied species that we had rarely met with before, 

 hkewise chequered the scene; and Avith herds of spring-- 

 bucks; qua^g-as and ostriches, announced the proximity of 

 water. Presently to our delight, we descried a " reed en- 

 circled fountain," at which, after twenty-eig-ht hours of total 

 abstinence, the dying- oxen were enabled to slake their 

 terrible thirst. A strong- calcareous deposit adhering- to the 

 veg-etation, rendered the water extremely bitter to the taste, 

 but it was by the exercise of the long- whips alone that the 

 cattle were prevented from plung-ing- into the pool before 

 our casks had been filled. 



The accidental, but important discovery of portions of a 

 broken yoke key, here enabled the Hottentots to decide the 

 knotty and long- arg-ued question, whether the outward bound 

 tracks upon which we were proceeding-, were those of Dutch, 

 or of Griqua wag-g-ons. Opinion being- now unanimous in 

 favour of the former, it w^as determined to follow them as 

 long- as they should preserve a south-westerly direction. The 

 total absence of fuel obhg-ed us, after an hour's halt, to con- 

 tinue our march over numerous salt-pans, upon which herds 

 of bles-boks, were busily hcking- the crystallized efflores- 

 cence. Alarmed at our approach, vast troops of them were 

 continually sweeping; past against the wind, carrying- their 

 broad white noses close to the g-round like a pack of harriers 

 in full cry. Never having- killed any of these antelopes, and 

 om- stock of provisions requiring- to be recruited, I mounted 

 Breslar, my favourite Rozinante, and never heeding- whither 

 I sped, dashed into the thick of them. The pine-apple hill 

 bore east about five miles, and I fancied was a never-faiUng- 

 land-mark to direct my return to the road, which, although 

 faint, could readily be distinguished by a practised eye. 

 Dealing death around, I continued to scour the plain, the 

 herd before me increasing from hundreds to thousands, and 

 reinforcements still pouring in from all directions, when cry- 



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