1812. 
KOKUN.— OSTRICHES AND ZEBRAS. - DAUW. 
315 
In our way, we saw a solitary kokun (kokoon) in the open plain, 
prancing about, exactly in the manner of the gnu, holding his head 
very low, and lashing his tail. Suddenly he stopped and turned 
round to look at us for about a minute, and then galloped off; his 
erect mane giving him the appearance of having withers considerably 
higher than his head. 
A little farther, two ostriches of the largest size, were feeding 
in company with a herd of about ten zebras. This latter animal 
is called by the Bachapins, Piitsi or P'ltsi (Peetsy) and sometimes, 
Piitse. It is remarkable that the ostrich and the zebra or quakka, 
are found most frequently in the society of each other. 
I stopped to examine these zebras with my pocket telescope : 
they were the most beautifully marked animals I had ever seen : 
their clean sleek limbs glittered in the sun, and the brightness and 
regularity of their striped coat, presented a picture of extraordinary 
beauty, in which probably they are not surpassed by any quadruped 
with which we are at present acquainted. It is, indeed, equalled 
in this particular, by the dauw, whose stripes are more defined 
and regular ; but which do not offer to the eye so lively a colour- 
ing. The dauw, or ' mountain-horse,' inhabits, as I was informed, 
the Kamhanni mountains, but was never seen in the plains, unless 
in their immediate vicinity, whither, on being pursued, it always fled 
for refuge. 
It had been previously agreed on, with the people at home, 
that, on our firing a musket as soon as we came within hearing, they 
were to answer it immediately by another discharge, to let us know 
that all was well at the waggons. Otherwise, their not giving the 
answer, was to be considered as implying that matters went wrong 
with respect to the natives ; and that we must advance with caution. 
This arrangement was made on the possibility that some prowling 
gang of robbers might fall in with them during my absence, and, 
discovering that the party was divided, might first overcome them, 
and afterwards place themselves in ambush to intercept the rest. 
On arriving at this distance, at which time the sun had already 
set, I discharged a pistol, and before it was reloaded, the answer 
s s 2 
