358 Mr. "W. 11. Ogilvic-Grant on 



and cumbersome^ tlie two front Mliecis being rather small, 

 ■svliile the narrow tyres of all four sink so (]ce})ly into the soft 

 sand that it is often as much as twenty oxen can do to i)ull 

 it at all. Far better than the ox-wagon is a good strong 

 Scotch-eart, with only two wheels, and those large ones : 

 twelve or fourteen oxen can pull it witli ease through any 

 sand, and it is much easier to drive in timbered country as 

 it can be turned about so much more handily. An ox-wagon, 

 however, Avill hold at least four times as much as a Scotcli- 

 cart, is far more comfortable and roomy to travel in, and if 

 not loaded with more than 4000 lbs., can usually be taken 

 anywhere by a good team of oxen. The tent of the wagon 

 or Scotch-cart slicnld be sound and covered with strong 

 canvas and the front part with raw ox-skins, put on soft, 

 \\ith the hairy side next the wagon, otherwise the continual 

 brushing past the thorn-trees will strip ofll'the covering in a 

 vci'V short time. For the same reason, it is quite useless to 

 tie anything on the outside of the wagon. Water-barrels 

 should be slung underneath, and must be very firmly 

 attached. Strong raw-hide reins are best for this purpose, 

 for when a stump or fallen tree strikes the barrel a rein will 

 give a little, while an iron fixture will either break or burst 

 the barrel. The barrels should be hung as high as possible 

 from the ground to prevent them touching it when the wheels 

 are in deep sand. It is also important to have them fitted 

 with sound taps, which can be locked. The barrels should 

 be inspected daili/ to see that they are not leaking. 



It is not advisable to take a new wagon for a long journey 

 in the desert : a sound secondhand wagon is the most reliable, 

 as its weak points have already been discovered, and it will 

 better withstand the extremely dry and hot climate. 



The selection of oxen is a most important point for anj'' 

 expedition into the Kalahari, for upon their efficiency its 

 success to a very great extent depends. The '^ Short-horn ^' 

 and " Friesland '' breeds are not at all suitable, as they 

 cannot stand thirst and are not accustomed to feeding on 

 the wild melons. " Africander " trek-oxen are fairly good, 

 especially if they have been bred in Bechnanaland or in the 



