A F R I C A. 26^ 
but the plain was too open and uncovered for 
us to come within fhot of them. 
The pond was the only refervoir of water 
within a great diftance round, and fortunately 
fome coveys of moor-fowl repaired thither to 
drink. My people, more fuccefsful than my- 
felf, killed about thirty brace of thefe birds, 
w^hich afforded us a moft excellent repaft. One 
of my oxen was in a ftate of agony, which 
feemed to indicate that before night I fliould 
lofe him. I therefore refigned him to my 
Hottentots; and the flefh, w^hen faked and pre- 
pared after their manner, fupplied them with 
a ftock of provifions which lafted fome time. 
I had retired to my tent, a prey to the 
bittereft refledions, when, in the middle of the 
night, Kees all at once fent forth a cry which 
was inftantly anfwered by the barking of my 
whole pack of dogs. By the acutenefs of his 
fmell, his hearing, and his fight, this animal 
was always the firft to put us on our guard 
againft danger ; and, of all the fervices which 
he rendered to me, this was the one which 
principally induced me to be fond of him. 
The alarm he had given fet every body on 
foot ; for we had equally to dread the attack 
of 
