must however, beg old Crowhead’s pardon, for strongly doubting the
truth of his declaration; but as this was no affair of mine, and I
could do the colonists no actual good by preaching to these people
against stealing, I thought it more prudent to leave him under the
supposition that I believed him to be a very honest man.
At noon we bade these poor creatures farewell; and took a
course across the plain in a direction intended to bring us to our
former resting-place at Quakka Station. There were very few objects
in the country around, sufficiently remarkable to have guided any
but men accustomed to traverse pathless deserts; yet from the character
of different parts of these plains, and some distant low mountains,
we were enabled to find our way without deviation, exactly to
the place we wished ; although there was neither bush, nor hillock,
to mark its position, nor any thing by which it could be recognised
at a distance. As we approached the place, we had various opinions
whether we should find the same spot again, but most of the
Hottentots felt assured that we should not miss it j and I was as
much pleased as surprised, when the result proved how direct had
been the course which we had steered. We found the remains of
our fires, and the bushes which had formed our shelter two months
before: but there were evident proofs of much rain having fallen
here since that time. On the way we fortunately fell in with an
ostrich’s nest containing ten eggs, a prize which always afforded us
an agreeable and wholesome change of food.
10th. Speelman and Juli had yesterday separated from the rest,
for the purpose of hunting, and had, though on horseback, been
absent the whole night. But Juli came home this morning with the
agreeable information, of their having shot a large male kanna (or
eland), which he had left in the plain at a considerable distance
northward and a few miles to the right of our course. They had
also fallen in with two lions, but had wisely declined having any
dealings with them.
We therefore immediately packed up our baggage, and departed,
under his guidance. The day was exceedingly pleasant, and not a
cloud was to be seen. For a mile or two, we travelled along the
banks of the river, which in this part abounded in tall mat-rushes.
The dogs seemed much to enjoy prowling about and examining
every bushy place, and at last met with some object among the
rushes, which caused them to set up a most vehement and determined
barking. We explored the spot with caution, as we suspected from
the peculiar tone of their bark that it was, what it proved to be, lions.
Having encouraged the dogs to drive them out, a task which they
performed with great willingness, we had a full view, of an enormous
black-maned lion, and a lioness. The latter, was seen only for a
minute, as she made her escape up the river, under concealment of the
rushes but the lion came steadily forward and stood still to look at us.
At this moment we felt our situation not free from danger, as the animal
seemed preparing to spring upon us, and we were standing on
the bank at the distance of only a few yards from him, most of us
being on foot and unarmed, without any visible possibility of escaping.
I had given up my horse to the hunters and was on foot myself;
but there was no time for fear, and it was useless to attempt
avoiding him. Poor Truy was in great alarm ; she clasped her infant-
to her bosom, and screamed out, as if she thought her destruction
inevitable, calling anxiously to those who were nearest the animal,
Take care! Take carei.[ In great fear for my safety, she half-insisted
upon my moving farther off: I however, stood well upon my guard,
holding my pistols in my hand, with my finger upon the trigger;
and those who had muskets kept themselves prepared in the same
manner. But at this instant, the dogs boldly flew in between us and
the lion, and surrounding him, kept him at bay by their violent and
resolute barking. The courage of these feithful animals, was most
admirable: they advanced up to the side of the huge beast, and
stood making the greatest clamor in his face, without the least ap-
pearauce of fear.. The lion, conscious of his strength, remained unmoved
at their noisy attempts, and kept his head turned towards us.
At one moment, the dogs perceiving his eye thus engaged, had
advanced, close to his feet,, and seemed as if they would actually
seize hold of him; but they paid dearly for their imprudence, for
without discomposing the majestic and steady attitude in which he