THE POOH-POOH SAND-BELT 
381 
secure to reckon on for water when the seasons have not been 
unusually dry. But since the Boers in their distress dug the 
well we found at Nkawana, this pan has ceased to hold water, 
and will only become serviceable again when the hole has been 
silted up, and is re-covered by the mud layer. 
The pits on this route, Thlakane, Malatzwye, Lichachane, 
and Thlaballa, however, are not dependent for water upon rains 
in the same measure as the pans, but derive their supplies 
from underground sources. 
Somewhat upset by losing the advantage of making the 
desirable afternoon start from our last camp, we considered 
that any benefit derived from the presence of this pan was 
neutralised by its compelling us to begin the long journey 
across the Pooh-Pooh belt at a more unfavourable time of day 
for the cattle, as we now should have to break the neck of the 
journey in the warm daytime instead of during the cooler night. 
However, we trekked off cheerfully enough; for, after all, with 
our nearly empty cart it was child’s play compared with 
the travelling difficulties of loaded wagons. A short way 
ahead we found the Machakabe track rejoining the main road, 
and we were now fairly launched on the Pooh-Pooh sand- 
belt. Fortunately the weather proved cool during the day, and 
we passed agreeably through a scene seldom to be found in 
that part of the country ; for it had rained lately, and the desert 
was clad with green, delicate-looking, straight grass, growing 
almost luxuriantly between slender short trees that waved their 
leafy tops in the cool breezes. But the weariness of that trudge 
through incessant sand, sand, and sand again, for six long, 
dreary treks, going day and night with only short outspans 
to rest the oxen, who towards the last lay down exhausted as 
soon as released from the yoke, until we kicked them up again 
to resume the journey, will long be remembered by us. With 
lack-lustre eyes and faltering gait, the oxen at last could hardly 
pull any further, and the flogging to force them along was 
fearful. Franz, now in his element again, shrieked, yelled, and 
danced like a fury alongside of the flagging cattle, sending 
