66 ADVENTDB.ES IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



of black wildebeest and springbok were to be seen piled 

 in heaps and scattered about the out-houses of the 

 farm. Adjoining the house was a well- watered garden, 

 with very green trees and corn in it, which formed a 

 most pleasing contrast with the surrounding barren 

 country. 



Having directed my men to proceed to the next farm 

 along the banks of the Brak River, I rode forth with 

 Cobus and held a northerly course across the flats. I 

 soon perceived herds of springbok in every direction, 

 which, on my following at a hard gallop, continued to 

 join one another until the whole plain seemed alive with 

 them. Upon our crossing a sort of ridge on the plain, 

 I beheld the whole country, as far as my eye could 

 reach, actually white with springboks, with here and 

 there a herd of black gnoos or wildebeest, prancing and 

 capering in every direction, whirling and lashing their 

 white tails as they started off in long files on our ap- 

 proach. Having pursued them for many hours, and 

 fired about a dozen shots at these and the springboks 

 at distances of firom four to six hundred yards, and 

 only wounded one, which I lost, I turned my horse's 

 head for the camp. The evening set in dark and low- 

 ering, with rattling thunder and vivid flashes of light- 

 ning on the surrounding hills. I accordingly rode hard 

 for my wagon, which I just reached in time to escape 

 a deluge of rain which lasted all night. The Brak 

 River came down a red foaming torrent, but fell very 

 rapidly in the morning. This river is called Brak from 

 the flavor of its waters, which, excepting in the rainy 

 season, are barely palatable. My day's sport, although 

 unsuccessful, was most exciting. I did not feel much 

 mortified at my want of success, for I was well aware 

 that recklessly jaging after the game in the manner in 



