CHAP, n.] TSOBIS RIVER. 51 



sun-stroke. I found him verj^ ill, and with a racking 

 headache, under a tree to which he had staggered — it 

 was the only shade near — and a very lucky chance for 

 him that he reached it. In a quarter of an hour he 

 was able to ride on, but was extremely poorly for the 

 evening. 



We slept at the mouth of the Tsobis Eiver bed, and 

 eat our last meal of animal food. We had shot 

 nothing, not even fired at game in the Swakop. The 

 days passed by rather heavily, for we were not yet 

 acclimated, but out of health and fevered. The least 

 cut or scratch festered, and we were not fit for much 

 exertion. Stewartson told us innumerable anecdotes 

 of events in the country since he had resided there. 

 He showed me all the points of an ox ; explained how 

 immeasurably superior that beast was in every respect 

 to a horse — a fact which I cannot endorse— and every 

 now and then gave me a mount. My first impression 

 in riding an ox was, that the saddle was ungirthed, for 

 his skin is so loose, that hold on as you will, it is 

 impossible to be as steady as on horseback. I hated 

 the animal's horns ; they were always annoying the rider 

 or somebody else, but nevertheless are dearly prized by 

 Hottentots as an ornament. I learnt it would cast 

 infinite ridicule upon me, in their eyes, if when I had 

 ride-oxen of my own, I should saw off their tips. The 

 footfall of an ox is peculiarly soft. 



My men, I was glad to see, worked together pretty 

 amicably, but there was no one amongst them with 

 sufl&cient influence over the rest to be made into a 

 head servant. John Morta, M'ho had far the most 



d2 



