1811. 
THE HOOKTHORN. 
309 
winding about between them in every direction, we at last discovered 
a track which conducted us to the place of rendezvous at half past 
ten, where, notwithstanding the darkness of the night, I could dis- 
tinguish the most delightful object we had beheld for several days : 
a large pond in which there was abundance of clear and excellent 
water. 
Here we found the hunters, who, being on horseback, had 
arrived some time before dark ; they had started early in the morn- 
ing, and had been very successful in their chase, having shot four 
Elands (Antilope Oreas) which they had left in the middle of the 
plain, until the waggons could be sent to fetch them away. 
In an hour afterwards, the rest of the waggons, and the loose 
cattle, arrived. All fears for want of water were now at an end, and 
past difficulties no longer occupied our thoughts : nothing remained 
of our troubles, but great exhaustion from continued travelling 
day and night, under such distressing circumstances. 
The name of this pool is Zand Valley (Sand Pool) ; and from 
a double altitude of the sun, I computed it to be in latitude 
29' 48' 4".* . 
IMh. The land here is strewed with stones of a siliceous kind, 
amongst which were frequently seen white stones of a calcareous 
nature. The largest shrubs were about five feet high, a plant quite 
new to me, but well known to the Klaarwater people, by the name 
of Haakedoorn (Hookthorn), and is the same thorny bush which 
gave us so much annoyance the night before, where it was above seven 
feet high. I was preparing to cut some specimens of it ; which the 
Hottentots observing, warned me to be very careful in doing so, 
otherwise I should certainly be caught fast in its branches. In 
consequence of this advice, I proceeded with the utmost caution, but, 
with all my care, a small twig caught hold of one sleeve. While 
* 15th Sept. at Zand Valley, at Ohr. 17 min. 0 sec. P. M. by the watch, the observed 
altitude of the sun's upper limb, was 57° 6' 24." ; and at 1 hr. 19 min. 0 sec, it was 53'' 6' 52". 
