me that, of course, all these silent river pools were infested
by the slimy and loathsome crocodile. At once it flashed
across my mind that this was the cause of Karemba’s unwillingness
to cross, although the poor fellow had spoken
in words which I could not understand.
It was very dark, and the sensation of immersion was
anything but pleasant. Scrambling out, however, we soon
came up to the waggon, where we found John seated beside
an immense fire, comfortably, and in dignified leisure enjoying
his evening smoke. John informed me that it was not
safe to wade in these rivers. He was under the impression
that I was ahead, otherwise he would have waited on the
southern side.
Much to the delight of the boys (male servants, no matter
what may be their age, are always “ boys ”), the next day
was spent in cutting up meat and drying it in the sun.
We were now passing through a forest country, with
granite kopjies here and there breaking through the alluvial
land. Towards the south-east we beheld the rugged chain
of the granite mountains, which form a conspicuous and
clear dividing line between the waters of the Zambesi and
the waters of the Sabia and Limpopo rivers. Away to the
north-west, about a day’s march, was the tsetse-fly country,
which abounds in big game of every description.
We soon lost the spoor of the hunters’ waggons which
had gone in towards the Hanyane river a year ago, and
which Selous had told me to follow; for by that means I
would be enabled to reach the borders of Mashona-land in
the shortest possible time.
A little to the north of the G-wailo river we stuck fast in
a small swamp. Oxen are often of a very stubborn disposition,
which some of ours on this occasion showed to
perfection ; but I could plainly see that the poor beasts had
a rough timd before them during the next month, for
the rivers which we had already crossed had tested their
strength with painful pitilessness.
Various ramblings in search of game showed the spoor
of lions and leopards, also their lairs. Lions I think must
have been plentiful; but it was almost impossible to get
at them without dogs, as the grass was then so high that
there was some difficulty in distinguishing even the. largest
antelopes. On one occasion, however, while on the way
back to the waggon, I came across a troupe of harte-beest,
and bowled one over as it ran past. Following in, hot
haste, I saw, with no slight surprise, that I had a companion
in the chase, in the shape of a yellow dog, which
seemed to enter with great gusto into the spirit of the sport.
The half-starved angular figure of the tyke was not unfamiliar
to me, as many a time had he spoilt my opportunities
for a shot. So as he bounded through the grass I
took a snap shot at him, with the intention of giving him a
good scare; but much to my amazement the shot took
effect, killing him in an instant. I was really very sorry
for this mishap; especially as the Kaffir boy to whom the
dog belonged looked so dreadfully unhappy when he heard
of the demise of his hot-bottle, the favourite being one of a
group which huddled together at night in order to sustain
their warmth. However some cloth, a few beads, and a
large chunk of meat soon dispelled the sorrow and lightened
the heart of the mourner.
John having informed me that he was ill, I now for the first
time in my life assumed the responsibilities of an ox driver.
Many and many a time had I used the short-handled cattle
whip employed in herding on the western prairies of
America, but I had never used the gigantic and indispensable
whip common to all South African caravans. In becoming
vol. i. G