JOURNEY TO LATTAKOO. [1813. 
17th. Thermometer at sun-rise, 34. Set off at 
eight, A.M. and reached John Bloom's Fountain 
about eleven. This fountain derived its name from 
a person who died about fourteen years ago, who was 
a runaway from the colony, and put himself at the 
head of many Bushmen, Corannas, and Hottentots, 
and lived on the plunder of other kraals. As he re- 
sided chiefly at this fountain, it was called by his 
name. It is full of reeds ten or twelve feet high, with 
many birds' nests hanging like bags from them. 
Thermometer at noon, 70. 
At two, P.M. we were again on our way. At 
four we halted at Blink Fountain, at the bottom of 
Plink (or Shining) Hill ; so called on account of a 
shining stone, resembling the lead of which pencils are 
made in England. This the Bootchuanas and others 
grind to powder, which they use in the same way as hair 
powder is used in Europe. The red stone with which 
the surrounding nations paint their bodies comes also 
from this hill, and, no doubt, forms an article of 
trade or exchange. The hill is low and flat on the 
top, where there are several huge rocks, of a dark 
brown colour, which are very curious. We ascended 
to these rocks, the sight of which amply repaid us for 
the labour. There are many indications that the hill 
has been produced by some volcanic eruption ; most of 
the stones lying about have the appearance of having 
been burnt to a cinder at some remote period of 
antiquity. 
