78 
BURNING HEAT OF THE SUN'S RAYS. 
8, 9 March, 
cipally of the natives, we had not intended taking for ourselves, more 
of the meat than enough for a day or two : but, as another proof 
of the improvident disposition of Hottentots, I discovered that my 
people, satisfied with what they had eaten on the spot, were not 
preparing to bring any away with them, till I ordered a quantity to 
be loaded up for at least my own use, as the meat of the second, 
seemed, as a change of food, more wholesome, and of a better taste, 
than our mutton. These foolish men thought only of the brandy 
and tobacco which they were to get by selling their shamboks at 
GraafFreynet, and therefore had cut up the hide of both the animals, 
into strips for this purpose. 
Although so chilling at sunrise, the weather had, by noon, 
changed to the opposite extreme. Exposed in the middle of a dry 
plain, where not a tree to afford shade was to be seen, I scarcely 
could endure the rays of the sun, which poured down, as it were, a 
shower of fire upon us. At this time I began to feel symptoms of fever 
from the cold which I had taken in the night, and this, probably, 
might render me less capable of supporting the heat of the weather ; 
yet I viewed with astonishment the bare-headed and naked Bushmen, 
who seemed to be not in the least incommoded by it. 
When I had finished my drawings, and the Hottentots had 
loaded up as many shamboks as the oxen could carry, we left the 
natives busily employed in cutting up their meat ; and returned to 
the place of the first rhinoceros. Here I assembled all my own 
people, and, as soon as they had taken another meal as a farewell to 
their game, and had packed up another quantity of the hide, we set 
out on our return home to the kraal. 
In our way we met a large party of the natives, men and women, 
who, joyously greeting us as they passed, told us they were going 
to their friends at the rhinoceros, to lend their assistance : that is j 
to eat and feast, day and night, till they had consumed the whole of it. 
We did not reach home till twilight had ended. I now found 
my fever much increased : I therefore adopted the remedy which 
had on similar occasions been found successful, and which con- 
sisted merely in drinking a quantity of hot tea immediately on going 
