Knowing that the longer they should be in reaching the next
watering-place the weaker their cattle would become, our travellers
strove to perform more than half the distance in less than half the
time. On their first day's journey after leaving the kraal, they went
about twenty-five miles; but on starting the next day they saw that not
more than half that distance was likely to be accomplished, and that
their principal work would consist in plying the jamboks.
Towards noon they came upon a tract of country, the greater portion of
which had once been flooded with brackish water, and was now slightly
incrusted with salt. The reflection of the sun's rays on this
incrustation gave it the appearance of water; and, on seeing it, the
cattle, horses, and dogs rushed forward, anticipating a grand pleasure
in quenching their thirst. On discovering what it was, the animals gave
out their various expressions of disappointment. The horses neighed,
the oxen bellowed, and the dogs barked and howled. A constant _mirage_
floated over the plain, magnifying and distorting the appearance of
everything within view. Where the saline incrustations did not cover
the ground, there grew a short, sour herbage, browsed upon by
_blesboks_, _wilde beests_, and several other species of antelopes.
These animals, as well as some stunted trees, at times appeared
suspended in the air, and magnified far beyond natural size. High up in
the air could be seen the reflection of animals that were many miles
distant from the place they appeared to be occupying. These optical
illusions were the cause of much annoyance to the thirsty travellers,--
especially to their animals, unable to understand them. Excited with
the hope of quenching their thirst, they were with much difficulty
prevented from rushing about in pursuit of the phantom that was so
terribly tantalising them.
The cattle had been a long time without salt, and had a strong desire to
lick up the saline incrustation, that in some places covered the earth
to an eighth of an inch in thickness. This increased their thirst, and
caused them to hasten forward to the next deceptive show that spread
itself before them. In place of meeting water, they only found that
which strengthened the desire for it. Our travellers seemed to have
reached a land where phantoms and realities were strangely commingled.
They saw spectral illusions of broad lakes, with trees mirrored upon
their placid surface. A sun of dazzling brightness seemed shining from
the bottom of an unfathomed sea, and a forest appeared suspended in the
air!
But along with these fair fancies there were many unpleasant realities.
For the first two or three hours after entering amid such scenes, they
could not help feeling interested. In time, however, the interest died
away as their vision became accustomed to the strange appearances. One
yet awaited them, stranger and more extraordinary than any yet
witnessed.
About three hours after the sun had passed the meridian, they arrived at
a place that resembled a small island in the midst of an ocean. Water
was rolling down upon them from every direction, and had their eyes not
been so often deceived, they could easily have imagined that the dry
earth upon which they stood was about to be instantly submerged. While
contemplating this singular scene, their attention was called to another
no less singular.
It was that of a gigantic bird moving across the sky, not in flight, but
walking with long strides! They might have been alarmed but for their
knowledge of what it was.
An ostrich somewhere on the karroo was being reflected by the _mirage_,
and magnified to ten times its natural size.
On a former expedition our hunters had seen much of the singular
phenomena produced by the _mirage_. They had witnessed many, many
spectacles, but the one upon which they were now gazing excited their
admiration more than any they had ever encountered. The reflected
ostrich was perfect in shape, and his stalk so natural that, but for
what they knew, they might have believed that something as extraordinary
as anything seen by John the Revelator had descended to the earth from
another world. Such a sight, appearing in the sky that overhangs
Hampstead Heath, would have converted all London to a belief in the
prophecies of the Reverend Doctor Gumming.
As they stood gazing upon it, a cloud came rolling up the heavens,
carried along by a breeze that had commenced blowing from the west. By
this the _mirage_ was destroyed, and the vast spectral image suddenly
disappeared. The phantom shapes were seen no more; and soon after the
travellers saw before them some real ones, that led them to believe they
were approaching the limit of the karroo.
The ground was higher, more uneven, and covered by a more luxuriant
vegetation. Water would be found at no great distance. This fact was
deduced from the presence of some zebras and pallahs, seen feeding near,
as they knew that neither of those animals ever strays far from the
neighbourhood of a stream.
Near what may be called the border of the karroo, the hunters came
across what to them was a prize of some value. It was an ostrich-nest,
containing seventeen fresh eggs, which afforded the raw material for an
excellent dinner.
This was soon cooked and eaten; and our travellers continued their
march. But Swartboy had a passion either for killing ostriches, or
procuring their feathers. Possibly the _penchant_ might have been for
both; but, be that as it may, he was unwilling to go away from the nest,
even after the eggs had been extracted from it.
Knowing that his masters intended to encamp by the first watering-place
they should meet, he determined to stay behind for an hour or two and
rejoin the travelling party in the evening; and as no one made objection
he did so.
His prejudice in favour of poisoned arrows, and against the use of
fire-arms, as weapons of offence, had been gradually removed; and he had
for some time past been induced to shoulder a double-barrelled gun
capable of carrying either bullets or shot.
With this gun the Bushman seated himself upon the edge of the ostrich's
nest, and was left in this attitude by the others as they moved away
from the spot.
Just as the sun was setting a dark grove of timber loomed up before
their eyes; and on reaching it they discovered a stream of water. The
impatient oxen would not allow their packs to be taken off till after
they had quenched their thirst, after which they went vigorously to work
upon the rich herbage that grew upon the banks of the stream.
It was full two hours before Swartboy made his appearance by the
camp-fire. Its light illumined a set of features expanded into an
expression that spoke of some grand satisfaction. He had evidently
gained something by remaining behind. Success had attended his
enterprise. In his hands were seen the long white plumes of an
ostrich,--the trophies of his hunter skill,--that even in Africa are not
so easily obtained. His story was soon told.
He had lain flat along the ground close by the ostrich's nest until the
birds had returned. They had come back in company, and Swartboy had
secured them both as a reward for his watchful patience. He had brought
the plumes with him, not as a mere evidence of his triumph, but intended
to be taken on to Graaf Reinet, and there presented to his "Totty."
The Bushman stated that he had seen a large flock of ostriches while
waiting for the two he had killed. He had no doubt but what they could
be found on the following day; and, as it was necessary that the cattle
should have a little time to rest and recover themselves after the toils
of the karroo, an ostrich-hunt was at once agreed upon, and for that
evening ostriches became the chief topic of conversation around the
camp-fire.