1812. 
GOATS.— HOTTENTOTS REMOVING THEIR HUTS. 
239 
that we were waiting for him. This place had been pointed out to 
us, as bearing due west from Ongeluks ; and, as it was at the distance 
of a long day's journey over a wild country, I delivered out to these 
three, a supply of ammunition for their defence, as well as for the 
purpose of shooting any game which might be met with on their 
return. 
llth. At noon a waggon and party of Hottentots, halted for a 
few minutes, on their way from Klaarwater to Casper's kraal, where 
they reside. These people are naturally, or habitually, fond of 
journeying about from one kraal to another ; and in this occupation 
they have worn down tracks across the country, which in several 
places, assume the appearance of regular roads. That which leads, 
from the Roggeveld is sufficiently beaten, if seen by daylight, to guide a 
stranger to Klaarwater : and it is probable that in time, the road which 
we had now opened to Graaffreynet, will become equally beaten. 
The Hottentots who were lying here at this time with their 
families and cattle, possessed a great number of goats ; but I saw 
among them no sheep. The former, requiring less care, and being at 
the same time less difficult to manage, are better suited to the indo- 
lence of these people ; although the preference which they give to 
mutton, on account of its greater abundance of fat, is an inducement 
for rearing sheep; of which they might in these extensive pastures, 
breed innumerable flocks, if they possessed the prudence to refrain 
at first from using them too freely. The whole number of their 
cattle at this place, large and small, appeared to be about two 
hundred. 
Observing a family busied in taking their house to pieces, I 
amused myself in watching the progress of their work, supposing 
they were about to pack it up and depart ; but as soon as this 
was done, they carried all the materials, after having well beaten 
them, to a distance only of a few yards ; where they soon erected 
it again. The whole operation of pulling down, removing, and 
building up, occupied no more than six hours ; and it might pos- 
sibly have been done in much less time. On inquiring the reason 
of what I thought an odd whim, their thus taking so much trouble. 
