SOUTHERN AFRICA. 323 
Hottentot, having bad former experience of the strength of 
their stomachs, yet it was no easy matter to convince tlie rest 
of it ; and his absence was also a very serious inconvenience. 
In the morning, however, he made his appearance. He had 
fallen asleep, it seemed, about the middle of the preceding 
day, and had not awaked till night. Though very dark, and 
unacquainted with a single step of our route, he had found 
us out by following the tract of the waggon, a business in 
which a Hottentot is uncommonly clever. There is not an 
animal among the multitude which range the wilds of Africa, 
if he be at all acquainted with it, the print of Avhose feet he 
will not easily distinguish. And though the marks by which 
his judgment is directed are exceedingly nice, yet they are 
constant in animals in a state of nature, but domesticated 
animals are liable to many accidental variations. He will 
distinguish the wolf, for instance, from the domestic dog, by 
the largeness of the ball of the foot, and the comparatively 
smaliness of the toes. The print of his companions' feet he 
will at any time single out among a thousand. The peasantry 
are also tolerably expert in tracing game by the marks of 
their feet ; it is, in fact, a part of their education. An 
African boor gains a sort of reputation by being clever op 
het spoor. This is the method by which, on moonlight nights, 
they hunt down the poor Bosjesmans. 
At the eastern extremity of the sandy plain, I was for- 
tunate enough to procure fresh oxen, to enable me to pass 
the northern point of the Picquet berg, a clump of moun- 
tains probably so named from their position in front of the 
great chain. Grain, fruit, good tobacco, and a limited num- 
T T 2 
