START FOR MERICO. 
161 
hunting, and bring out the ivory. We were seven 
days in getting to our destination, having gone far 
out of the way. Swartz and young Vermaas had 
got back, having had a glorious hunt. They had 
shot twenty large bulls, besides what they traded 
from the Kaffirs, and the sight of so much fine ivory 
determined me at once to lose no time in trying 
to get among the mighty bulls; and, Swartz going 
in again shortly, I agreed to go with him, and to 
find a span of oxen — he to bring out all the 
ivory I got so far; and I at once started back 
again for my oxen, horses, guns, &c. I dis¬ 
posed of Graham for seven oxen, and also my 
double gun, for 141 lbs. of ivory, two very fine 
teeth, which had, however, only cost Swartz eight 
pounds of beads and two bullets. 
I made the best of my way back to Harte- 
beest Fontein, and, taking the right road, and tra¬ 
velling day and night, I got there in four days ; 
bought a cart for 15/., and two dogs also — a 
bull and greyhound, a perfect model, Torey by 
name, and a well-bred pointer bitch, which I christ¬ 
ened Donna, and got back to Joubert’s the following 
day, having been away three weeks. Found all 
well; one ox dead or lost. John had sold 4 The 
Saxon ’ for six oxen, which I was very sorry for, 
as he had had the sickness, and was a quiet shooting 
pony; but it was my fault. 
I left fifty-four oxen in charge of Joubert, and 
John and myself started, two days after, back again 
M 
