42 
A COUNTRY SUSCEPTIBLE OF CULTIVATION. 
4, 5 March, 
and traversing the plain in a widely meandering course, seemed to 
offer all that agriculture could require, and to tempt a more laborious 
race of men than its present inhabitants, to bring it under cultivation. 
The river many times crossed our path, and quitted us only 
when we ascended to an elevated stony level. Here we saw, with 
much pleasure, several herds of kannas (or elands) and quakkas grazing 
at a distance and appearing not much to heed the presence of our 
party. We halted ; and Philip, mounting the horse, immediately 
pursued them ; but he could not overtake any till he had ridden 
above two miles, when he was so fortunate as to bring down a large 
kanna, which he had singled out and continued to follow, till he 
had fairly hunted it down. 
The chase having led him in a northerly direction, we turned 
back as soon as the Bushmen brought us information of his success ; 
and, falling in with the river at about half-way to where the animal 
lay, we again unpacked on its banks, about an hour before sunset, 
at a spot marked on the map by the name of Hunter s Station. 
Philip, Speelman, and Hendrick, with pack-oxen, proceeded 
on to the eland, and were accompanied by Riizo, and Kaabi, and all 
the Bushmen of our party. But a heavy shower coming on before 
they had skinned and cut up the carcase, they were obliged to remain 
there till the next morning. 
5th. At eight o'clock they came home ; and the whole of the Hot- 
tentots found full employment all the forenoon, in cutting the meat 
into slices and laying them on the bushes to dry : in which operation 
we were fortunately favoured by a very hot and drying day. 
We gave Kaabi and his companions so large a portion of our game, 
that finding it more than they were able to carry, he had been obliged 
to send off one of his people on the evening before to his kraal to 
fetch a pack ox. His messenger returned with the ox this afternoon, 
and was accompanied by eight others, some of whom were boys. 
These occupations detained us till a late hour of the day ; yet 
we determined on packing up and proceeding farther, as the Bush- 
men were anxious to reach their kraal, and had assured us that we 
might arrive there before dark. To prove to them our confidence. 
