His Researches in Archaeology 



77 



of several caves, to which with five or six hired 

 native-boys he resorted on sixteen occasions, 

 noting the stratigraphy and bringing back a 

 varying assortment of stone and bone implements. 



In this branch of his work he was greatly 

 stimulated by the success of his friend and rival, 

 Dr. Kannemeyer. Kannemeyer was a medical 

 practitioner, but his medical work and the locality 

 in which he practised it were subservient to his 

 researches in Natural Science. A medical visit 

 was always a good excuse for exploring the veld 

 round the farm to which he had been called. 

 Not infrequently he held up the train in which 

 he was travelling as Railway Medical Officer, so 

 that he could have his one and only opportunity 

 of seeing what was to be found on some not too 

 near-by koppie. Engine-drivers soon know the 

 man for whom time, if not the tide, can wait, 

 and they adjust their time-tables accordingly. 

 All honour then to those wide-awake men who 

 nodded conveniently whilst Kannemeyer did his 

 best to mend the maimed or save a fossil ! 



Kannemeyer is perhaps best remembered to-day 

 for the excellent work he did for Archaeology 

 in the Smithfield District of the Orange Free 

 State. Here he preserved for posterity the fading 

 story of just how and for what purpose the 

 surviving Bushmen used those types of stone 



