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SOUTHERN AFRICA. 
the shepherds of Palestine. In times of peace 
they always lead their herds — a trained ox fol- 
lowing the Kaffir wherever he strays through 
the pastures, while the others are taught to 
follow him. Beside the chief herd, there are 
usually one or two assistants, who carry long 
" herding rods," with which they keep the 
cattle together and stimulate the lazy. In times 
of war, or danger, however, their mode of proce- 
dure is altogether changed ; and then, whilst 
the chief herd changes his position from the 
front to the rear, driving instead of leading, the 
number of these assistant herds is materially 
augmented, their occupation now being to goad 
the outside beasts, and keep them compactly 
together. In this manner they drive, with the 
greatest dexterity, vast herds, consisting of se- 
veral thousand heads, many miles through the 
most difficult defiles of their mountain fast- 
nesses. Nor can this custom be witnessed by 
a student of Holy Scripture, without his being 
forcibly impressed with the remarkable coinci- 
dence it has with that description of the "Good 
Shepherd " which is given to us in St. John's 
Gospel, Chap, x, verses 1 — 16. 
Besides using their cattle for food and draught, 
they also ride them ; and are very dexterous 
in their management of them. For this pur- 
pose, they select the strongest and fleetest cattle. 
