116 ADVENTURES IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



ten feet deep, and extending throughout the entire length 

 of the plain, I had only to study the wind, and could 

 walk up within easy shot of any herd, and select what 

 ■ buck I pleased. 



Here I remained for several days, enjoying brilliant 

 sport, both oryx and springboks giving me each day 

 excellent shots. Here, also, I shot my first ostrich, a 

 fine old cock. It was a very long shot ; I gave my rifle 

 several feet of elevation, yet nevertheless the ball struck 

 him on the leg, breaking it below the knee, when he 

 fell an(>was unable to rise. The power possessed by 

 an ostrich in his leg can hardly be imagined. The 

 thigh is very muscular, and resembles that of a horse 

 more than that of a bird. In the act of dying, he lashed 

 out and caught me a severe blow on my leg, which 

 laid me prostrate. 



CHAPTER Vn. 



Leave Beer Vley — A Boshboy captqred and enlisted as a Follower- 

 Famous Sport with Wildebeest and Quaggas from a Hunting-hole— 

 Water fails, and we march to the Great Orange River — Beautiful Ap- 

 pearance of the River — Stink Vonteyn, a famous sporting Quarter— 

 An Ostrich's Nest — Bold Mountain Ranges — The Qriqua Tribe, their 

 Manners and Customs — An ancient Mimosa Forest — Residence of a 

 Bushman — Successful Chase of a noble Bull Oryx. 



On the 9th I considered I had sufiiciently long en- 

 joyed the sweets of Beer Vley ; and accordingly, the 

 wagons being properly packed, I inspanned in the aft- 

 ernoon, and trekked to the south. On the following 

 morning we inspanned at the dawn of day, and retraced 

 our steps to the Rhinoceros Pool. The heat continued 



