376 TRAVELS IN 
of my fufee procured us above forty moor-fowl 
of a very beautiful fpecies, which were accuf- 
tomed to come by thoufands, and light on the 
borders of this fountain. The Hottentots of 
the colonies call them Nimiqua partridges^ be- 
caufe in the rainy feafon they all emigrate 
towards the tropics. Reckoning from the 
time when we encamped at this fountain, we 
found nothing but coarfe plants and locufts : 
we were indeed in a moft defolate place ; 
four of my oxen, having not ftrength fufficient 
to follow us, remained on the fpot ; and I faw, 
with no fmall griefs that my dogs halted, and 
could fcarcely drag themfelves along. As the 
foles of their feet were torn and cut to the 
very quick, I ordered them to be rubbed 
over with greafe, that they might be induced 
to lick them, and to be put into my car- 
riages until they fliould be in a condition to 
walk. My horfes being attacked by the 
fame diforder as my oxen, I caufed fmall bags 
or covers to be made of fkins, and, having 
greafed their hoofs well, I faftened them on 
their feet by tying them above the tarfus. I 
w^fhed to fubjeft my oxen to the fame ope- 
ration, but thefe intradlable animals would 
never have fubmitted to it peaceably ; befides 
greafe 
