I PART PROM SECHELE. 
177 
the animal in any other part of the colony would be 
dear at 12/., but here he is worth the money, as 
he.is thoroughly salted and won’t die, and a most 
enduring brute. He is used to being under saddle 
every day, and an unexceptionable horse at elephants. 
I think I shall lose no more now by sickness, as they 
show no signs as yet, and have all had the sickness 
below ; but Jack and Croppy are worth nothing, the 
former nearly blind and a bolter, the other purblind, 
deadly stupid, lame and stiff as a post. Sechele very 
anxious to sell me a horse for a gun, but he is a 
shuffling little weed and the risk is too great to run, 
as, if it came to the hearing of the Boers, they would 
probably confiscate some of my property, or inflict a 
heavy penalty. 
29 th .—Parted company with Sechele, he going 
back again. Sent Medcalfe two oxen, which almost 
got him into difficulties ; treked far on into the 
night, and made the oxen fast. 
3(M.—Inspanned very early, and made good play 
—highly favoured by the cool and cloudy weather— 
through this rightly-named thirst land. Got a little 
water for the horses in the afternoon, in a deep cleft 
in the rocks — a most unlikely place to look for it. 
The Kaffirs had previously been making holes, and 
drinking stuff as thick as mud. Every kind of 
utensil was put in use, and I thought bladders the 
very best, being so light to carry and holding a good 
quantity. The road uncommonly heavy deep sand, 
bushy country all the way, camel thorns principally, 
