SOUTHERN AFRICA. 
55 
CHAP. II. 
Sketches on a journey from 'The Cape of Good Hope^ acrofs the 
Karroo^ or Arid Defert^ to the Drofdy of Graaff Reynet. 
TT^HOUGH the rains ufually commence about the beginning 
of May, in the prefent year the whole month of June was a 
feries of fine pleafant weather ; unfavorable, however, to the 
hufbandman, and not lefs fo to the traveller, who may have 
before him a long journey over the uninhabited deferts of 
Africa, and muft neceflarily make daily ufe of the fame cattle, 
either in the team, or to travel along with him as relays. 
The eftablifhed mode of performing fuch long journies, in 
this colony, is in covered waggons drawn by bullocks. 
The carriages made for this purpofe are very expenfive ; but 
they are well conftrudled to bear hard fervice, to run light, and 
are fufficiently commodious and fpacious to contain all the 
neceffaries that may be wanted on a long journey, and alfo a 
cot, or matrafs, for fleeping upon. Such a carriage is com- 
monly drawn by a team, or fpmi^ as it is termed in the colony, 
of ten or twelve oxen. Each day's journey is called a fi^of; 
and the length of thefe is generally regulated by local circum- 
ftances, being from five to fifteen hours. It is cuftomary alfo 
to travel in the night, that the cattle may have the advantage of 
the day to graze, or rather to broufe, among the fhrubbery ; 
for 
