VISIT TO SOUTH AFJIICA. 
235 
for the horses, and several articles of house-keeping, given to 
us. Brother Stein had slept in the tent, but v/as much disturbed 
by the howling of wolves, by the cattle breaking out of the kraal, 
and the attempts made to secure them again. Indeed we were 
thankful to find, that none of our loose oxen had fallen a prey to 
the nightly depredators. 
l6th. AVe set out about nine o'clock, accompanied by Messrs. 
Swann and Oakely. The road was hilly and stony, and the coun- 
try barren. After about three hours' ride, we halted on the waste 
to dine. The horsemen preceded us, in hopes of shooting some 
game, but were unsuccessful, though many ostriches, wild pea- 
cocks, korhans, (black-cocks), and antelopes were seen. A large 
puftader, however, received the contents of Brother Schmitt's 
gun. This powerful and venomous serpent was crossing the road, 
under the feet of the oxen. It was a novel sight to see him twining 
his clumsy body upon the sand, which he did with a scraping 
noise. The Hottentots were extremely eager to pursue and de- 
stroy him; but to approach this serpent is dangerous, as by 
throwing himself backward, he is sure to w^ound any object near 
him. He would have escaped, but for the gun being ready load- 
ed. He was about three feet long, and three inches in diameter. 
We made halt for half an hour, at Mr. Van Vy ver's farm, 
and proceeded across a flat country, covered with heath and a 
few low bushes. Here we were amused by the sight of some 
hundreds of springbocks, one of the most elegant antelopes of 
this country. They stood in parties of twenty or thirty to- 
gether, and our sportsmen w^ere all alive, endeavouring to ap- 
proach near enough to make sure of their aim. But all attempts 
were vain. The bucks suffered them to approach to within gun- 
shot, when they set oft' full speed, leaping sometimes over eacis 
other. They bounded along, in a species of dance, springing with 
all four feet at once from the ground, then, swiftly facing about, 
surveyed their pursuers. Sixteen shot were fired at them, but not 
in a single instance did it appear that one Iiad been wounded. 
