68 MODE OF JOURNEYING. 



necessary labour, and a proceeding that did more harm 

 than good. 



When a Boer takes a long journey, he rides one pony 

 and leads two others, changing his saddle from back to 

 back, as each animal has done its share. Riding for two 

 hours, and off-saddling for half an hour, is the usual 

 arrangement ; six miles an hour being the general pace. 

 When a traveller halts in Africa, which he does in a well- 

 chosen spot, near water and shade if possible, he takes off 

 the saddle and bridle, and knee-halters his horse ; this 

 last affair is nothing more than fastening the animal's 

 head to its leg just above the knee ; the leg is lifted up, 

 and the halter passed round, and formed into a clove 

 hitch : thus held, the animal is unable to move away 

 quickly, and can be caught when required : the halter 

 does not slip, or gall the leg. As soon as the pony finds 

 himself at this partial liberty, he searches for a dry, 

 sandy place, scrapes the ground a little, and then enjoys 

 his roll ; he gets up covered with dust and dirt, takes a 

 drink, and loses no time, but at once picks up as much grass 

 as the place affords. When the traveller is again ready, 

 the animal is up-saddled, and the journey continued. 

 Few of the colonial settlers have stables ; the pony, on 

 completing the journey, is turned out to graze until even- 

 ing, when it is driven into an inclosure fenced with palings 

 or brushwood, and thus left uncovered and uncombed. 

 In the morning, it is turned out for the day. The 

 better-kept horses have oats, barley, and Indian corn; 

 oats being expensive in many parts of South Africa, barley 

 is obliged to supply its place, and the horses consequently 



