96 DETENTION. 



gons were under repair, being most kindly and com- 

 fortably entertained by the worthy proprietor, who 

 is distinguished for his hospitality throughout the 

 country. 



Leaving these friendly quarters, we directed our 

 course to the Draai, The weather was now extremely 

 cold, and the heavy rains rendered our situation by 

 no means agreeable. As the oxen had been much 

 fatigued with their day's journey, during which they 

 had also suffered from want of food, we imagined 

 there would be no fear of losing them, and therefore 

 allowed them to graze at large ; but in the morning 

 not one was to be discovered, and the whole day was 

 spent in searching for them : towards evening, we 

 were rejoiced to see the Hottentots at a distance 

 returning with them, but found, on their nearer 

 approach, that five of the number were still miss- 

 ing. At daylight the next morning the search was 

 renewed, and it was not until sunset that our Hot- 

 tentots again made their appearance, having suc- 

 ceeded in tracing the stray cattle to a secluded kloof 

 in a mountain, where they imagined them to have 

 been driven during the night by the hysenas. 



The weather still continued cold with strong 

 piercing winds, and the mountains in the distance 

 were covered with snow. Next day we quitted the 

 Draai, where we had been so long detained by the 

 loss of our oxen, — a casualty that frequently oc- 

 curs to travellers in this open country, — and were 



