374 
THE NEW AFRICA 
Haakedoorn Vley, the next pan ahead, reported to be two 
good treks from here, we heard from some passing natives, 
contained excellent water. 
Hammar obtained a longitudinal observation at Thlakane, 
but missed the latitude by some mischance in the night; and as 
we could always rectify this by another latitude, to be taken on 
ahead, up to which point we could travel by dead reckoning and 
the compass, we went on without losing time, and trekked eight 
miles on the 7th December, when, halting at mid-day, the 
latitude matter was adjusted. Twelve miles travelled in the 
night brought us to Haakedoorn Yley, which we found, to our 
intense satisfaction, contained splendidly flavoured water, a great 
contrast to the saline stuff we had been using for several days 
previously, which, although gifted with medicinal qualities, was 
decidedly unpalatable to drink. We congratulated ourselves on 
this change, over many cups of tea, of which we never seemed 
to be able to drink enough, after the unpleasant past experiences. 
We rested all day at Haakedoorn Vley, and towards evening 
proceeded on our journey, trekking, with short intervals to rest 
the oxen, on to the Malatzwye pits of water, where we arrived 
at 8 a.m. next morning. 
Paul had made great friends with a huge grey goat we had 
brought from the lake with us, to kill as a stand-by in case of 
hunger. The affection these two displayed towards each other 
was quite extraordinary. Paul shared his bed with the goat, 
who often got the best of the one blanket, which constituted 
the sleeping arrangements of Paul’s economy, and often Paul 
would be heard expostulating with his partner in the night, 
when he woke stiff and cold, to find that the goat had carefully 
rolled him out of occupation and taken up the best position in 
the bed, as a matter of right, pertaining to his superior ’cuteness. 
This goat followed Paul about in the execution of all his daily 
duties, such as cattle-herd or water-fetcher, etc., and we, there¬ 
fore, to test his staunchness in friendship, one day told Paul to 
remain behind when the cart started. The goat followed the 
cart for some yards, much perplexed at Paul’s delay, then turned 
