42 
PRECAUTION OF THE BUSHMEN. [1820. 
stabbing the cattle ; but happily the Bushmen 
had not observed the stragglers, though they had 
passed them at no great distance, which was 
probably owing to their having been asleep. 
The plain being unknown to the surrounding 
nations, of course it had no name, we therefore 
distinguished it by the name of Alers Plain, and 
the fountain we had been so long detained at, by 
the name of Hankey Fountain, both after Wm. 
Alers Hankey, Esq. Chairman and Treasurer to 
the Missionary Society. 
The day was gloomy, the heavens being ob- 
scured by dense clouds, and the wind blew cold 
from almost every point of the compass. The 
Bushmen did not come for water to the fountain 
while we halted, but this accorded with their 
rule never to drink of the fountain nearest their 
kraal. The Bushmen have always a strong odour 
about them, of which the animals are aware, con- 
sequently if they were daily going for water to the 
fountain, the scent left behind would frighten 
away the game, and thereby lessen their means 
of subsistence. To prevent, therefore, the 
necessity of resorting to the fountain, they dig 
holes at a distance from it, out of which they 
procure a supply. 
Two of the Bushmen who visited us in the 
