THE SEA-COW RIVER. 133 



other, rushing past the dogs, sprang on Van der 

 Merwe's companion ; but its attention being at 

 length withdrawn from its victim by the dogs, which 

 pursued and fastened on it, Van der Merwe re- 

 loaded his gun, and shot it within seventy yards of 

 the spot where the other lay dead. With some diffi- 

 culty he managed to convey away his friend, whose 

 body was most dreadfully lacerated, and who died in 

 consequence three days afterwards, under the most 

 excruciating sufferings. 



After supper, we returned to our waggon, and 

 rising early, pursued our course towards the Sea-Cow 

 River : during our progress we saw a vast number 

 of what the colonists call the wild turkey, Ibis caha, 

 feeding in an adjacent plain, but so shy that we 

 were unable to get within shot of them. About 

 ten o'clock a.m. we uitspanned at a farm, where, 

 having purchased a very fine sheep for three rix 

 dollars, (4*. 6d.) the usual price throughout the 

 country, we salted it, leaving the offal for the vul- 

 tures, which were soon attracted to the spot. As 

 we were preparing to depart, a farmer came up to 

 us with his waggon, having just arrived from 

 the Orange River, where he had been with the in- 

 tention of bartering for cattle among the Griquas on 

 the opposite side ; but being unable to cross in con- 

 sequence of the swollen state of the stream, he was 

 under the necessity of returning with the tobacco 

 and saddles, which formed his own articles of ex- 



