INSPANNING. 37 



capable of inflicting most tremendous chastisement 

 upon the thick hides of sulky and refractory oxen. 

 Those manufactured from the skin of the hippopotamus 

 are very much superior to those of the rhinoceros, being 

 naturally of a much tougher quality. If properly pre- 

 pared, one of these will last for many years. A smaller 

 description of " jambok" is manufactured for the benefit 

 of horses, and may be seen in the hands of every horse- 

 man in the colony. 



When the leader brings up the oxen to the wagon to 

 .be inspanned, the wagon-driver, if possible, sends an- 

 other Hottentot to his assistance, especially if any of 

 the oxen in the span happen to be young or refractory. 

 These, armed with a huge "jambok" in one hand, and 

 a handful of stones in the other, one on either flank, 

 witli shouts, yells, and imprecations, urge forward the 

 unwilling team toward the yokes, where the driver is 

 standing with the twelve long buffalo rbeims hanging 

 on his left arm, pouring forth a volley of soothing 

 terms, such as, " Ah ! now, Scotland ! Wo ha, Blau- 

 berg ! you skellum, keer dar Carollus for BJlauberg, ye 

 stand somar da, ioh wichna wha yo hadachta ist." 

 (Turn there for Blauberg ; you stand there in an ab- 

 sent state, I do not know where your ideas are.) 

 " Holland, you ould Myfooty ! (" Myfooty" is a com- 

 mon Hottentot term, which I would defy even them- 

 selves to construe. The Dutch word "somar," men- 

 tioned above, is also a word to which I think I could 

 * challenge the most learned schoolmaster in th* colony 

 to attach any definite meaning. It is used both by 

 Boers and Hottentots in almost every sentence; it is 

 an answer to every question ; and its meanings are 

 endless.) " Slangfelt, you iieuxel !" (Snakefield, you 

 humbug !) " Wo ha, now, Creishmann ! (Crooked 



