The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1890-04-05
ACROSS THE KARRO0.

the map of South Africa as beginning
beyond the range of the great zwarte
BLACK mountains).
The entrance to the Karroo is through
a small gorge about a quarter of a mile
long and twenty yards wide, with abrupt
walls of stone on either side, which seems
to 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 to reach
was 100 miles, which we wished to ac-
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 (<arroo Gate) 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 a 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 light
though strongly built cape cart, on oc-
oasion covered with a canvas hood to
protect us from the sums 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
vultures swooping from afar.
AS we entered the desert it spread be-
fore us on every side like a 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 sundown in cutting and gathering
quantity of brushwood CKarroo shrub,
the only thing that grows upon these
| plains) to feed a necessary fire to protect
us from the wolves and jackals which
scour the desert in packs.
After supper we put away our tin
dishes, replenished 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 lay awake a
long time after George Meadows had
fallen asleep. Suddenly there came into
the dead silence long, sharp, piercing
cry, answered by another in the opposite
direction, equally distant; these were
the cries of jackals.
Then came the bark of wolf, answered
by chorus, and Meadows suddenly rose
into sitting position. "The brutes are
| OouninulN ba I,,,,
dred throats seemed to be baying into
the darkness, drawing nearer and nearer
until we could see, surrounding us like &
! 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 mad,
more perceptible, by the rays of thu
glowing brushwood embers; in all direc
tions about us the glare of shining eyes
; and now the brutes came 30 near that W,
could hear the angry snarls and tn,
swapping of their jaws.
George Meadows rose and threw fresl
fuel on the fire; the flame that cracked
and flashed up brought into view tn,
; shaggy forms of the gray wolves, tn
striped hyenas, behind them, again, tn,
jackals; and the horses, realizing tina
their deadly enemies were close at hand
: gave low whinnies, as though callint
a upon us for protection The Moritl
|. brothers were up, and, together witt
] ourselves, opened fire upon the animals
shooting at the shifting masses wher,
they seemed thickest, answered by howl
and cries of rage as our bullets tore thei
{ way into the restless groups. For al
I hour or more the animals skulked around
but, as we kept our brushwood fire il
good condition, they finally gave VI
r what we feared was a premeditated at
tack, and stole away. And then W,
l rested and knew no more till the chilli
e dawn awoke us, when fresh misfortune
J: awaited us.
In the confusion Of the night before
wooden canteen, filled with water, ha,
. been kicked over, the bung started anC
- much of the contents lost. While tn
c horses were being fed and ''inspanned,
IS Meadows made coffee, and then, great,
refreshed, we set out before the sun wa
up, journeying still deeper into the des
y ert. Our drive was dreary pull. Ono
we passed close to where a flock of vul
lures were feeding on the carcass o
e some animal that had wandered off tn
road to die. Our track was lined witt
whitened bones. After we had halte,
It for an hours rest and hurried break
k fast, we went on again, and should hav,
IS been in good spirits enough had no
our horses, Injured as they were, begun
to show unmistakable signs of the fatigu
that follows a lack OF water
~ We ourselves had not too much to sat
ii isfy the needs OF four men, and we de
At termined to put ourselves on short al
g lowance since the mishap of the nigh
e, before. After the midday "outspan'
to our late afternoon journey was enlivene,
ig by singular display Of thieving bold
C. ness We were slowly "trekking' along