1812. 
OXEN UNABLE TO PROCEED. 
193 
of losing any of my men, especially for an object to which we were 
led neither by necessity nor advantage. 
After a march of above twelve miles, we arrived at the place 
where the kanna lay : it was in the middle of a plain covered with 
low scattered bushes. Here we found Speelman, who had remained 
to guard the carcass and prevent its being devoured by vultures, of 
which great numbers were discoverable hovering at an immense 
height in the air, and sailing round in circles directly above the spot. 
This place is distinguished therefore, upon the map, by the name of 
Vulture Station. 
We were soon afterwards joined by a party of natives, the greater 
number of whom were women, removing with their oxen, sheep, 
goats, and the materials of their huts, to Kaabi's Kraal. 
11^^. We had with us seventeen Bushmen, some of whom made 
themselves useful in lending their assistance to cut up the eland- 
meat, for which service they and the whole party were, as usual, 
well paid in meat and tobacco. 
At noon, when we began to pack up, we discovered that the 
backs of some of the oxen, but more particularly of that which 
carried my baggage, were become so sore, and galled by their 
loads, that we found them unable to proceed. This inconvenience 
was the more serious in its consequences, as it would, by travelHng, 
grow . every day worse. In this dilemma, I despatched two of the 
Bushmen to my friend Kaabi, from whose kraal I supposed we were 
not more than a day's journey, to beg that he would lend rne two of 
his pack-oxen. 
In the mean time I sent five of my men out hunting, that I might 
be enabled to make him a handsome present of game. They were 
not, however, successful, though the whole plain was covered with 
the foot-marks of antelopes and other wild beasts which were seen 
on all sides. Amongst these the lions made constant havoc ; and 
at night the cries and moans of an eland, which we heard one of 
them devouring close by our station, awoke me in the middle of 
my sleep. 
\2th. In the morning, one of the Bushmen fetched away the 
VOL. II. c c 
