SOUTHERN AFRICA. 
95 
the number of ten or twelve each, which they hatch all toge- 
ther, the male taking his turn of fitting on them among the 
reft. Between fixty and feventy eggs have been found in one 
neft ; and if incubation has begun, a few are moft commonly 
lying round the fides of the hole, having been thrown out by 
the birds on finding the neft to contain more than they could 
conveniently cover. The time of incubation is fix weeks. For 
want of knowing the oftrich to be polygamous an error re- 
fpedting this bird has flipt into the Syjlema Natura^ where it is 
faid that one female lays fifty eggs. 
The eggs of the oftrich are confidered as a great delicacy. 
They are prepared in a variety of ways ; but that made ufe of 
by the Hottentots is perhaps the beft : it is fimply to bury them 
in hot aflies, and through a fmall hole made in the upper end 
to ftir the contents continually round till they acquire the con- 
fiftence of an omlet : prepared in this manner we very often, 
in the courfe of our long journies over the wilds of Africa, 
found them an excellent repaft. In thefe eggs are frequently 
difcovered a number of fmall oval-fhaped pebbles, about the 
fize of a marrowfat pea, of a pale yellow color and exceeding 
hard. In one egg were nine and in another twelve of fuch 
ftones. 
At this place it was confidered prudent to furnifh our Hot- 
tentots, who attended the cattle, with fire-arms, having of late 
been much infefted by parties of Bosjefmen. They had not 
been out with the oxen above an hour before they were feen 
returning with fix ftrangers under their guard. They were 
not, 
