1811. 
DEATH OF THE TERRIER. 
401 
29^^. As the oxen appeared much strengthened from having 
grazed all the forenoon on the delightful fresh grass which grew 
along the banks, we ventured to resume our journey, though the 
heat of the weather this day was not less oppressive than it had been 
on the preceding. Before two in the afternoon, the thermometer 
had already risen to 98° (■'56°'6 Centig.) It was 94° at a little after 
one, the time when we set out. Striking out into the open plain, we 
quitted the river, and travelled about ten miles over a country 
covered with dry grass and bushes. 
The dogs, to avoid the violent heal of the sun, ran along be- 
neath the shade of the waggon ; but my poor unfortunate little 
terrier, through some mismanagement of his own as he ran by 
the side of the wheel, suffered his foot to be run over, and had 
scarcely time to utter a cry before his head was crushed. The 
first notice I received of the accident was the lifeless body of 
my faithful little dog, brought to me by one of the Hottentots. 
Although it was but an animal, I could not help feeling a shock, 
and shall not be ashamed to confess that this sad occurrence pre- 
vented all further enjoyment for the rest of the day. Such mis- 
fortunes are, from the cause just explained, not unfrequent in hot 
weather ; and during the journey from Cape Town, several dogs 
of the caravan were lost in this manner. 
Our guides, instead of conducting me to the confluence of the 
Maap, brought me, to suit their own purposes, to a part of the river 
where the mat-rush grew in great abundance ; expecting thus to per- 
suade me to stop here several days, till the rush -gatherers had 
finished their work. But as they found I would not agree to this, 
the spot offering, to me at least, no temptations to remain, they left 
behind the party of women, amounting to about a dozen, with two 
of the waggons, and some men for their protection. 
We continued our way by the side of the river for seven miles, 
till we arrived opposite to the Maap, where, after reconnoitring the 
spot, we safely brought the waggons down the steep bank, and took 
up a station on the bank of the Yclloiv River (Ky-gariep), in a de- 
3 F 
