Ill 
vildebeest, or gnu, as well as (Quantities of blesbok and 
springbok on all sides, being attracted to this part of tbe 
country by the new grass which is just sprouting up, and 
is generally earlier here than elsewhere. It was a sight 
to see : every hill was literally alive with these animals, 
but I tried in vain to get a shot, as there was not a bit of 
cover to conceal one's self in. I longed for a good horse, 
as running them down and shooting them from horseback 
would have been capital sport. I tried the grey mare, but 
she was nowhere. Our reclaimed foreloper ran away again 
this morning, and I felt sorry I had foregone the satisfaction 
of licking him when I had the chance. Passed the mud 
hole, where the big wagon had sunk in before, without 
any trouble, having put on both spans and gone at it with 
a run. Camped near a solitary Dutchman's farm close to 
a large lake that was alive with wild fowl, but having no 
boat I could not get at them. 
September 23rd. The Dutchman came to see us, and 
hearing I wanted to run the vildebeest kindly offered to 
lend me his pony, which he said was fast enough for the 
purpose ; so he and I and Dubois started off about 
mid-day, but I found the pony could not get within 100 
yards or so of the game, and then one had to jump off 
and blaze into the brown of 'em." I hit several, and 
broke one's leg, but then even I couldn't catch him — they 
seemed to be as hard to kill as their brethren down below 
the Berg. Trekked on in the evening from 5 tiU. 8 o'clock. 
We exchanged some soap (of which the Dutchman and his 
wife and family seemed much in need, judging from their 
appearance) for a sheep, and also a goose which we wanted 
for our approaching Michaelmas dinner. Next morning 
we inspanned very early, and made a short trek before 
breakfast, and about 10 o'clock we started again, when 
we had to trek five hours and more before we came to old 
grass, and any patch we could find was generally of very 
