226 KLOOF AND KARROO. 



except in the artificial dam at Riet Fontein. In 

 another half-hour the mirage disappeared, and the 

 most marvellous clearness of atmosphere succeeded. 

 The tawny mountains, in no place nearer than twelve 

 or fifteen miles, appeared almost within rifle-shot, 

 and we could plainly distinguish every little kloof, 

 crevice, and inequality sharply defined upon their 

 rugged surface, until they melted, many a league 

 away,.into deepest blue. As we gazed again upon the 

 open karroo, in the other direction, but one object 

 interposed between us and the far horizon — a 

 conical mountain (the Tiger Berg), rearing itself from 

 the sea of plain, and looking down in solitary 

 grandeur on the world beneath. The air, upon 

 these elevated plateaux, possesses an extraordinarily 

 exhilarating influence, and I think one never feels 

 " fitter " than in these regions. 



At length we perceived H. and a Kaffir riding 

 towards us, the former leading one, and the latter 

 two horses. As soon as they had reached us, we 

 buckled on our spurs which they had brought, and 

 despatching the Kaffir with the fifth horse to pick up 

 the game we had shot, listened to H.'s instructions 

 as to the best method of driving a herd of springbok 

 in the distance. In the result, we mounted, spread 

 out upon the plain at distances of some three 

 hundred or four hundred yards apart, and walked 

 our horses quietly in the direction of this herd, 

 which numbered some three or four hundred 

 antelopes. When we had got within three-quarters 

 of a mile, the antelopes became disturbed, and 

 began those extraordinary saltatory accomplishments 

 ("pronken," the Boers term them), from which they 

 take their name. One of the herd, followed by 



