386 
SPITTING-SNAKE. — KYSI PITS. 
24., 25 Oct. 
was a natural pavement formed of a dark-colored iron-stone rock 
remarkably pitted with little hollows. 
After having travelled above twenty-two miles, without finding 
any water, we arrived by moonlight at a small spring very pleasantly 
situated amidst large trees of Karro-thorn. The herdsmen, with the 
loose oxen and sheep, had reached the place two hours before the 
waggons ; and, from the abundance of dead branches that lay strewed 
about, had made several blazing fires : so that on our arrival we 
found a comfortable home ready prepared. In these regions, after a 
very hot day? the night-air, by comparison, frequently feels chilly; 
and a fire, while the thermometer is at 70°, is sometimes very accept- 
able, especially if any dew be falling. 
25th. This place bore the name of Spuigslang Fontein 
(Spitting-snake Fountain) from a species of snake which is said to 
spit out at its pursuer a venomous liquid, of which, if a particle 
enter the eye, blindness may be the consequence, unless it be instantly 
washed out. The vicinity of this fountain is inhabited by Bushmen, 
whose pits for ensnaring game, were every where to be seen. They 
had taken a degree of trouble in preparing the country for this pur- 
pose, which showed that on some occasions, they could be very labo- 
rious. The interval from one to another, was crossed by a line of large 
branches and limbs of trees, placed so closely together as not to be 
easily passed by any of the antelopes or kwakkas ; the game for 
which they were intended. The line extended, in this manner, for 
a mile or two ; and at every convenient place, an opening was left, 
opposite to which was a deep pit so carefully covered over with thin 
twigs and grass, that it could not readily be perceived ; more espe- 
cially, when the mould that had been dug out became grown over 
with herbage. The pits were generally about six feet in depth, and 
as much in length. They were nearly three feet wide at the surface ; 
but contracted gradually to the bottom, where they did not measure 
much more than one foot. Or, in other words ; these holes were so 
proportioned to the size of the animal for which they were made, 
that they just fitted its body and head when fallen into it ; while at 
