1811. 
AN ANCIENT HOTTENTOT GAME. 
233 
from the circumstance of its being for several months in the year, 
as the boors assured me, subject to storms of snow, although lying 
under the parallel of only thirty-two degrees and a half from the 
equinoctial line. 
In the course of this day's journey, a small species of bustard 
(Otis) was shot. It is considered a rare bird and difficult to be 
obtained ; and, being only found in the Karro, is distinguished by 
the name of the Karro Kooi^haan. Its flesh is exceedingly good, 
and, in this respect, it agrees with all of the Otis tribe. It is so 
scarce that we never met with it again during the whole of my travels. 
The descent on the northern side of the Wind-heuvel is very 
gradual, continuing for about two miles. Not far on the other side 
of the mountain, we came to a leg-plaats, belonging to Jasper Cloete, 
where we took up our station, near the hut, which was not only 
deserted, but in ruins. 
A colonist, who lived in the neighbourhood, paid us a visit, and 
was invited to dinner ; but as he preserved a most extraordinary 
taciturnity all the time, we learnt nothing from his company, except 
that he was a tall man in a great jas (watch coat), and ate mutton 
with a crooked knife. 
Our party of Hottentots being now increased by the accession 
of several of their old friends, together with some sliepherds, who 
chancing to pass by, were invited to take a seat at their fire, the 
* evening and a great part of the night were spent in conviviality, 
smoking, laughing, and talking. 
At one of the fires, an amusement of a very singular, and nearly 
unintelligible kind, was the source of great merriment, not only to 
tlie performers themselves, but to all the bystanders. They called it 
Kaartspel (card-playing), a word, in this instance, strangely misap- 
plied. Two Hottentots seated opposite to each other, on the ground, 
were vociferating, as if in a rage, some particular expressions in their 
own language ; laughing violently ; throwing their bodies on either 
side ; tossing their arms in all directions ; at one moment with their 
hands close together ; at another, stretched out wide apart ; up in 
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