and the lion and leopard by night, were hostile
to man and beast. The goats, upon which we depended
for our supply of milk, were objects of especial
care : these were picketed to pegs driven in the
ground close to the fires, and men were ordered to
sleep on either side. We had three greyhounds
belonging to the Arabs, and it was arranged that, in
addition to these guards, a watch should be kept by
night.
The dense shade of the nabbuk had been chosen
by the Arabs as a screen to the camp-fires, that might
otherwise attract the Basé, who might be prowling
about the country ; but, as a rule, however pleasant
may be the shade during the day, the thick jungle,
and even the overhanging boughs of a tree, should be
avoided at night. Snakes and noxious insects generally
come forth after dark—many of these inhabit
the boughs of trees, and may drop upon the bed of
the unwary sleeper ; beasts of prey invariably inhabit
the thick junglës, in which they may creep unperceived
to within springing distance of an object in
the camp.
We were fast asleep a little after midnight, ; when
*we were awakened by the loud barking of the dogs,
and by a confusion in the camp. Jumping up on
the instant, I heard the -dogs, far away in the dark
jungles, barking in different directions. One of the
goats was gone ! A leopard: had sprung into the camp,
and had tom a goat from its fastening, although tied
to a peg, between two men, close to a large fire. The
dogs had given chase; but, as usual in such cases,
they were % so alarmed as to be almost useless. We
quickly collected firebrands, and searched the jungles,
and shortly we arrived where a dog was barking
violently. Near this spot we heard the moaning of
some animal among the bushes, and upon a search
with firebrands we discovered the goat, helpless
upon the ground, with its tbroat lacerated by the
leopard. A_ sudden cry from the dog at a few yards
distance, and the barking ceased.
The goat was carried to the camp, where it shortly
died. We succeeded in recalling two of the dogs;
but the third, tbat was the best, was missing, having
been struck by the leopard. We searched for the
body in vain, and concluded that it had been
carried off.
On the following day, we discovered fresh tracks
of elephants at sunrise. No time was lost in starting,
and, upon crossing the river, we found that a large
herd had been drinking, and had retreated by a peculiar
ravine. This cleft through the sandstone rocks,
which rose like walls for about a hundred feet upon
either side, formed an alley about twenty yards
broad, the bottom consisting of snow-white sand that,
in the rainy season, formed the bed of a torrent from
the upper country.- This herd must have comprised
about fifty elephants, that must have been in the
same locality for several days, as the ground was
trampled in all directions, and the mimosas upon
the higher land were uprooted in great numbers :