34 
our keeping them in tlie bottle too long. After a week or 
so they should be taken out and pinned to a cork. Next 
morning we made an early start, and stuck fast in a rocky 
spruit/' or stream. I thought we never should get out, 
as the oxen were more obstinate than ever. Tried to get 
some oxen from a Caffre to help us up the last slope of 
the Biggarsberg, but no go ; and so we had to take the 
wagons up singly as usual, and only just reached the top 
by nightfall. Next day on again, and reached Dubois' 
farm about mid-day. The Caffre he had sent out to meet 
us and show us the way, was attracted by a dead ox at 
some distance off, and quietly departed, leaving us to find 
the road as best we might. Dubois' farm was a very bare, 
wretched-looking place, according to our English ideas of 
habitation ; not a stick near it of any kind. The house 
built of sun-dried bricks, with a thatch roof and mud 
floor; windows stopped with rags, &c., was not picturesque; 
and the whole surroundings rough and untidy ; no garden 
or any pleasant sight except the stream of water running 
just in front of the house. We arrived ravenously hungry, 
it being nearly noon, and were truly thankful for the break- 
fast Mrs. Dubois had kindly provided for us. They were 
very hospitable, gave us some dinner, and pressed E. to 
sleep there, but we both preferred to stick to the wagons, 
to which we returned by dark. No fresh signs of sickness 
have appeared amongst the oxen the last day or two, and 
therefore we are hoping we have passed by the country 
infected with it ; but mahy of them are very poor, and 
hardly fit to work. Shot a few partridges, and are hoping 
to find some antelope in a day or two, as we get further 
on. We have now travelled one hundred and twenty 
miles, and taken nine days' trekking to do it, out of the 
fifteen days we have been on the road, giving an average 
of about thirteen miles for each day's journey; and we 
can't expect to do more than this on a long journey, and 
