Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-03-05
ACROSS THE KARROO.


now reached the edge cf the desert known
q the Karroo. The mite Is marked On
the map of South Africa - beginning
beyond the range Of the great ZwaFts
BLACK mountains).
The entrance to the Karroo u through
. small gorge about . quarter OF mule
long and twenty yards wide. with abrups
walls Of stone ON either side, which seems
70 indicate that at some former period .
stream Of water had passed out through
this gorge from lake whose bed is now
an arid desert The distance across the
desert to the point we wished 70 reach
was 100 miles. which we wished to &C.
complish in three days 1t was neces-
sary to be careful Of our horses. know
ing there was no water on the journey
for them. We hoped to do forty miles
the first day. and thirty miles each day
Of the two following. We entered the
Karroo Poort (Karroo Gare) at sunrise,
and set out on our hazardous journey.
| should state that we had stopped over
night at last farmhouse near the Poort.
to give our horses rest and good feed.
and to supply ourselves with forage for
them and water for ourselves, filling
every available vessel with the precious
fluid. Our conveyance was a light
though strongly built cape cart, on oc-
casion covered with a canvas hood TO
protect us from the suns rays, and there
were four of US. No one can set out
upon desert journey without mingled
emotions of hope and fear, there are so
many contingencies lying along those
weary roads, and roads rendered more
desolate by the bleaching bones of dead
animals-for often the willing beasts.
the horses and oxen, fall with fatigue,
and see with dying gaze the keen eyed
vuitures swooping from afar
As we entered the desert it spread be-
fore US on every side like boundless
brown sea, silent, solitary and vast. As
the sun rose into the sky the warmth be-
came intense and when by midday we
halted we could see the heat rising from
the scorched plains in the wavy columns
like golden flames. There Is no greater
alleviator of thirst than cold tea, and no
safer stimulant in torrid land. While
the horses were being embarrassed and
fed Meadows and prepared our midday
meal In three hours we broke up camp,
and went on again until the day was
nearly done-a day that had passed fairly
well.
There was neither tree nor mountain
in sight; nothing to break the level mo-
notony that stretched as far as the eye
could see. We encamped for the night
in the midst of this swelling loneliness,
and then perhaps for the first time began
to feel its power. We spent the last hour
before shutdown in cutting and gathering
a quantity of brushwood (Karroo shrub,
the only thing that grows upon these
plains to feed necessary fire to protect
US from the wolves and jackals which
scour the desert in packs.
After supper we put away our tin
dishes, replenlshed our big fire, wrapped
ourselves in our rugs, and lay down with
our weapons by our sides and our feet to
the fire.
Adolph and Wilhelm Moritz, happy
Dutchmen. were soon asleep: Meadows
and lay chatting for some time, then
relapsed into quietness. the deep and
strange silence that surrounded us bro
ken only by the stir of the horses tied to
the wagonpole. The singular sensation
of lying in this noiseless desert drove
sleep from my eyes, and l lay awake 8
long time after George Meadows hao
fallen asleep. Suddenly there came int,
the dead silence long, sharp, piercing
cry, answered by another in the opposit.
direction, equally distant; these wer,
the cries Of jackals.
Then came the bark of wolf, answered
by chorus. and Meadows suddenly rose
into sitting position. The brutes are
coming he exclaimed. Instantly hun.
dred Threats seemed to be baying into
the darkness, drawing nearer and nearer
until we could see, surrounding us like q
circle of fire, the scintillation of red eyes
The scene was now become one of start
ling reality-all about us the dense dark.
ness, lighted only, and in a manner made
more perceptible. by the rays of the
glowing brushwood embers; in all direc.
tons about us the glare of shining eyes
and now the brutes came so near that We
could hear the angry snarls and the
swapping of their jaws.
George Meadows rose and threw fresh
fuel on the fire; the flame that cracked
and flashed up brought into view the
shaggy forms of the gray wolves. the
striped hyenas, behind them, again, the
jackals: and the horses, realizing that
their deadly enemies were close at hand,
gave low whinnies. as though calling
upon us for protection. The Moritz
brothers were up. and, together with
ourselves, opened fire upon the animals,
shooting at the shifting masses where
they seemed thickest. answered by howls
and cries of rage as our bullets tore their
way into the restless groups. For an
hour or more the animals skuiked around;
but, as We kept our brushwood fire in
good condition, they finally gave up
what we feared was premeditated at
tack, and stole away. And then we
rested aud knew no more till the chilly
dawn awoke us. when fresh misfortune
awaited us.
In the confusion Of the night before a
wooden canteen, filed with water, had
been kicked over, the bung started and
much Of the contents lost. While the
horses were being fed and "inspanned,' y
Meadows made coffee, and then, greatly
refreshed, we set out before the sun was
up, journeying still deeper into the des-
ert. Our drive was dreary pull. Once
we passed close to where flock of vul-
lures were feeding on the carcass Of
some animal that had wandered off the
road to die. Our track was lined with
whitened bones. After we had halted
for an hours rest and hurried break
fast, we went on again, and should have
been in good spirits enough had not
our horses, Injured as they were, begun
TO show unmistakable signs Of the fatigue
that follows lack Of water.
We ourselves had not too much to sat-
tsfy the needs Of four men, and We o.
termined to put ourselves on short Al
lowance since the mishap of the night
before. After the midday "outspan"
our late afternoon journey was enlivened
by singular display Of thieving bold
ness. We were slowly "trekking" along,
the two drivers Of our four in hand team
seated on the front seat, Meadows and
on the seat behind half asleep, the cur
tain at the end of the wagon rolled up Q
few inches to permit draught to paA
through, when all at once we hoard .
scuffiing kind of spring and scratching
at the tailboard, and looking round We
caught the glimpse of the nose Of jack
al as it disappeared from sight The req
son was obvious. Lashed against the
back of the wagon outside was a sack Of
dried salt fab the odor of HIGH had at