4 
220 ONGELUKS RIVER. 17, 18 July, 
more of the Bokkeveld Karro was seen, the hills intercepting it from 
our sight. 
We travelled no more than four miles and a half this day ; but 
unyoked at Ongeluks river (Misfortune river), where the land begins 
to be hilly. This river is said to have received its name from the 
circumstance of a boor having formerly been torn to pieces by 
a lion. I had also some occasion to call it Misfortune river ; for 
here, the jolting of the waggon broke a pocket compass : a loss which 
would have been a serious one, had I not provided against such an 
accident, by having more than one. 
The river was quite dry, excepting two or three puddles of bad 
water. We took up our station in the bed of it, where an abun- 
dance of Karro-thorns and large Karree-trees afforded us shelter from 
a violent south-easterly wind, which came on in the afternoon. We 
had scarcely released the oxen from the yoke, when we were visited 
by a boor, lying here with his flocks. We accompanied him to a 
miserable hut close by, to purchase some sheep. His only food was 
mutton, without bread, or any kind of vegetables. His sheep were 
numerous and thriving, though they fed on nothing but bushes : of 
large cattle, he had none, as the land of the Karro and the Rogge- 
veld does not produce the grassy pasture proper for cows and oxen. 
Our visitor's place in the scale of civilization, would be nearly at the 
bottom, if even it should not be below zero : his mental powers ap- 
peared to have lowered themselves down to a level with those cattle 
which were the only concern of his thoughts. He seemed to possess 
a mere animal existence : he could eat meat, drink a dram, smoke a 
pipe, spit, and practise some other disgusting vulgarities ; which last 
enjoyments he indulged in without ceremony, and almost without 
cessation. He seldom spoke, because he had nothing to say ; while a 
lifeless eye betrayed the vacancy of his mind. He was, however, in- 
vited to the waggons during our stay, and treated civilly. 
A young boor on horseback, having with him two other horses, 
which he led by a halter, to serve him as relays during his journey 
to some distant part of the colony, was passing by ; but, seeing us, 
he approached and dismounted ; saluted us with " Dag /" and gave 
