234 
AN ACCIDENT AT NIGHT. 
6, 7 June, 
arrangement which was preserved during the greater part of our 
travels in the Transgariepine. 
Meeting thus with a deep hole, I called to the other driver 
who was at some distance behind, and directed him how to avoid it. 
We continued for some time to lead the waj, till a signal from Juli's 
whip, announced that some occurrence there required our presence. 
On going back we found that the leader had carelessly brought the 
waggon into the very place which had been pointed out. It fortunately 
was not quite, though very nearly, overturned ; but it was not 
possible for the oxen to drag it out. Spades and pickaxes were im- 
mediately fetched from the other waggon, and after an hour's work, 
the obstructing earth was sufficiently cleared away, and the hole filled 
with bushes, to admit of the vehicle being drawn safely out. 
Without any further accident, we arrived at Moses Fountain, 
between eight and nine. Near this spring resided the Hottentot 
named old Moses, whose cattle were at that time under the care of 
some Bachajnns whom he had engaged in his service. These men 
had constructed for themselves two neat huts of bushes covered with 
grass. They were curious to learn from my men, what were my 
plans, and what was the object of my visiting their country ; but 
I considered it more prudent to caution my people against giving 
them too much information. 
1th. On rising this morning, I discovered that all the Hottentots, 
excepting Stuurman, were absent. His story was, that they were all, 
excepting Andries who was attending the oxen, gone in search of the 
sheep which had strayed away in the night. Speelman, however, who 
had been yesterday sent to Cupido Kok's place at TaaiboscJi Fountain '^. 
arrived soon afterwards, with my oxen, having met them four miles 
off, wandering by themselves, without any herdsman within sight. 
In driving them home, he met two of the people on the search, 
who confessed that the oxen were early in the morning loosened 
* Taaibosch (Tough-bush) is a Dutch name given to several species of Rhus. This 
name was also given to a Kora captain or chieftain, hereafter mentioned on the 29th of 
July. 
