CHAPTER VI. 



Eland-hunting Beautiful country Telescopic eyes Loading at a gallop 

 The Dutch Boers Speed of the eland Eland-hunt Unsuccessful 

 result Signals of distress African Nitnrods A herd of elands 

 Better luck this time An accident The Slough of Despond A 

 " Sticks bullet " In at the death A bivouac Air-pillows. 



AT the cold season of the year the Dutchmen are in 

 the habit of making excursions into the uninhabited 

 plains in search of the large herds of elands and harte- 

 beest that are there found. These excursions are made 

 for the purpose of obtaining a supply of meat, which is 

 dried and salted : the Boers thereby save their cattle from 

 the knife. 



The plains under the Draakensberg Mountains, and 

 near the sources of the Mooi river, were very frequent 

 hunting-grounds of the Boers who lived near the Bush- 

 man's river. Some of these farmers I had met on former 

 occasions, and in consequence received an invitation to 

 join their party, which consisted of Kemp, Pretorius, and 

 five others : we had three waggons amongst us, and 

 nearly two dozen horses : many Kaffirs and Hottentots 

 also accompanied us. The country in which we purposed 

 to hunt was covered with a most beautiful undulating turf. 



Late in the autumn of the year the grass, which grows to 

 a great length, is set on fire either by the Boers or by the 

 Bushmen ; tribes of the latter living near, in the Draakens- 

 berg Mountains. The ashes of the consumed grass make a 

 good manure, and, after a shower of rain, the young tender 



