14 KLOOF AND KARROO. 



night with mutual expressions of goodwill. There 

 was only one bed amongst our party of four, so we 

 tossed for positions — the lucky ones sleeping on the 

 bed, while the two others wrapped themselves in 

 their rugs upon the floor. The Dutchman retired to 

 a small room at the back. 



At dawn next morning (cock-crow it is usually 

 called at the Cape) we were up, and after coffee, 

 inspanned and started. The change from yesterday 

 was complete. This morning, after the sun had 

 risen in ruddy splendour over the mountains, a 

 clear blue sky and a bright refreshing atmosphere 

 succeeded to the burning north-west blasts. 

 Departing with a salute from the long coaching 

 horn, we' proceeded on our way, our Boer friend riding 

 with us for a time. The horse he bestrode was a 

 " tripplaar," and carried him with its singular ambhng 

 pace as easily as an arm chair or a rocking horse. 

 The triple is a sort of shuffling canter on three 

 legs, peculiar to the Cape, and a horse that possesses 

 it commands a higher price than its fellows. The 

 whimsical Boers have singular notions of horse-flesh. 

 They despise mares, and will, if they can help it, on 

 no account ride them. What their reason for this is 

 I am unable to state, but the fact remains. We, in 

 this country, as often as not, prefer the mare to the 

 gelding, as being more willing, and of higher courage. 



We noticed several curious birds this morning. 

 First, the blaauw valk (blue hawk) or chanting 

 falcon {Le faucon chantetir), as it is called by Le 

 Vaillant. This hawk has certainly a very peculiar 

 ringing whistle, but Le Vaillant invested it with 

 altogether fictitious attributes, pretending that it' 

 sings for an hour at a time, night and morning. It 



