1812. 
DEPARTURE FROM KOSI FOUNTAIN. 
289 
I therefore gave orders for our departure ; and at an hour and 
a half after mid-day we drove away from Kosi Fountain. Juli, who 
complained much of toothache, was obliged for a day or two, to re- 
sign to Platje his office of driver of the baggage- waggon. 
This wao-o-on was now loaded with as much meat as it could 
carry ; and so large a stock ought, with proper care and management, 
to have lasted almost as many weeks, as in fact it did, days. But a 
Hottentot, or a Bushman, must have eiihev gluttony , ox famine ; either 
waste, or want. In time of plenty, moderation and economy seem 
to them, greater evils than absolute hunger. 
After clearing the low rocky ground, which may be considered 
as a flattened part of the Kosi Hills, we continued travelling the re- 
mainder of the day, over a sandy country covered with grass. When 
we had advanced about six miles, I halted to take the bearings of 
Kosi Fountain, and of the Kamhanni Pass ; the country being so 
open and level as to admit of both being seen at the same time. 
As the distance from Kosi Fountain to the next water, was a jour- 
ney of two days, or, at least, of thirty-seven miles, we had taken the pre- 
caution of filling the water-casks, and of allowing the cattle and dogs to 
drink at the spring just before we set out. Our only care, therefore, 
was occasioned by the want of fuel ; and as these plains produce few 
bushes, Stuurman and Andries were sent forward on horseback, and 
followed on foot by Muchunka, to collect a quantity of firewood ready 
to be taken up by the waggons as they passed. But so great was the 
scarcity of dry wood in this part of the plain, that we travelled till 
dark without coming up with the men. At that time, perceiving a 
tolerably large clump of Tarchondnthus, (C. G. 2173.) and fearing that 
we might not fall in with so good a shelter if we proceeded farther, 
we judged it more prudent to halt here for the night. This is distin- 
guished on the map, by the name of Tarchondnthus Station. 
The Hottentots not returning by the time the oxen were all 
unyoked, we fired two muskets to call them back ; and immedi- 
ately made a blaze with a heap of dry grass. We collected from the 
Tarchonanthus bushes, here eight feet high, wood enough for cooking 
and for keeping a fire burning all night. This the three absent 
people perceived, and finding we were not coming on, at length turned 
VOL. II. p P 
