10 July, 1812. KLAATALAKUMO — EACHAPINS AND BUSHMEN. 
341 
Among these grasses, was a very remarkable sort with long curved 
awns growing from one side ot" a thin spike. * Here I first met with 
a very ornamental shrub f, three feet high, covered with small silky 
leaves, and decorated with a profusion of yellow flowers : it abounds 
in several parts of the plains south-westward of Litakun. 
When we were about half way on the day's journey, a spot 
was pointed out, at a considerable distance on the right, where, 
as a remarkable circumstance, a kraal of Bushmen were then re- 
siding. It was from their being known as less addicted to robbing, 
that they were permitted by the Bachapins, to take a temporary 
residence so near to their chief town. This spot was called 
Kldataldkumo^ or, Klaatalakomo ; and was surrounded by a thick 
grove of large acacias. Some of its inhabitants were seen, but 
they did not approach us. They left the place a few weeks after- 
wards, and removed their kraal more within the boundaries of their 
own country ; if so nice a distinction of territory can be made between 
these nations. The Bachapins and Bushmen are, in general, not on 
very good terms ; but they are tolerated in each other's country, if 
they excite no suspicion of their being come there with the design 
of stealing cattle ; for robbery of this kind is, between the various 
South- African nations, the only cause of warfare, whether as avowed 
plundering, or as pretended retaliation. 
Notwithstanding the whole days-journey being over sandy 
ground, the oxen stepped on for the greater part of the time at the 
rate of eighty-six revolutions of the wheel in five minutes, which, 
according to the table already mentioned as having been calculated 
for this purpose, indicated three miles and a hundred-and-thirty-eight 
yards in the hour : in the heaviest parts of the road, our rate was 
only eighty-one revolutions. From these data, combined with the 
time we were travelling, which was five hours and fifteen minutes, 
the length of this day's-journey may be stated with tolerable exactness, 
at fifteen miles and a quarter. 
* Catal. Geogr. n. 2220. 
f Passerina ? Catal. Geogr. 2203. 
