136 THE DIAMOND MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA
Bultfontein,
— names of inconsiderable little patches on the face of South Africa,
which were destined to become memorable by approaching revelations.1
Attracted by the good
pasturage and water and the sight of flowers, fruits, and birds, even
the eager diamond seekers were not loath to linger for a day at one of
these oases and rest themselves and their cattle before pushing on to
the Vaal. As they drew near to their goal the face of the country began
to change. After passing the Modder River, the grassy plains stretched
out wider and longer and more gently undulating, and the mirage was
more greatly magnifying and illusive. Herds of wild game, chiefly
springbok, blesbok, hartebeest, wildebeest, and koodoo, were now
frequently seen, and the ears of the travellers were tickled with the
cheery karack-karack of flying korhaan and the pipes of red-legged
plover. There are black headed or veld korhaan and bush korhaan. These
birds, which are very plentiful along the Vaal River and about
Kimberley, belong to the smaller bustard species. The cock bird of the
veld korhaan has a black head with white spots on the sides. The top of
the head or crest is of a reddish gray color. The back is also reddish
gray, the markings of the feathers being in rings or stripes. The wings
are black-and-white, and the legs yellow. The hen birds have reddish
gray heads, but otherwise are similar in feather tc the cock bird. The
bird derives its name from the Dutch word knor, to scold, and haan, hen
or bird, on account of the scolding noise made by the male bird as it
rises from the ground. The original word, knorhaan, has been corrupted
into korhaan. The bush korhaan has a gray head with a light blue patch
on the crown, just back of which is a pink-brown crest an inch and a
half long. The back is covered with brown-and-white feathers with
diamond-pointed markings. The lower part of the leg is yellow and the
upper part blue. The Dutch call one variety
1 " Achtzehn Jahre in Sud Africa," E. J. Karrstrom, Leipzig, 1899. " Seven
Years in South Africa," Emil Holub, London, 1881. "South Africa," A. H.
Keane, London, 1895. "South Africa of To-day," Captain F. E.
Younghusband, London, 1898. "Ten Years in South Africa," J. W. D.
Moodie, London, 1835. "South Africa," George McCall Theal, 1888-1893.
