MODE OF KILLING GAME. 19 
contain a drop of water. Klaas, the driver of my 
own waggon, an ardent lover of the juice of the 
grape, was even lamenting that I had not emptied 
the wine vaatche at the last fountain, and substituted 
water, which had now become to him as well as to 
the rest far the most precious liquid; thus showing 
how strangely circumstances may operate to manifest 
the importance of that which, in its abundance, we 
are apt to undervalue and disregard *. 
The Hottentots at last followed the track of some 
animals until they reached a muddy pool, which had 
evidently been frequented by lions during the night, 
from the spoor being quite fresh on its margin. 
The water, however, to their great vexation, was 
totally unfit to drink. Here we saw several harte- 
beests (Antilope caama), which are usually found in 
the plains, in small herds of from five to eight in 
number. ‘They are very quick-sighted, and disap- 
pear on the least alarm, The mode adopted by the 
natives in obtaining them is as follows :—-They 
muster a strong party, form themselves into a half- 
circle, covering an immense extent of land, then 
gradually close in upon the game, until they have 
completely surrounded it, when some of the party 
giving way cause an opening, towards which the 
* An English settler in Albany, being condemned by a magistrate 
to imprisonment, on bread and water, said, ‘‘ Thank you, Sir; you 
have given me the two scarcest and most precious things in Africa.” 
C 2 
