IN THE ZULU COUNTRY. 265 
become aware of it; and now a second abandoning of the precious sub- 
jects of so much toil was pressingly necessary ; but as I do not wish to 
dwell on this subject, suffice it to say that by dint of much skulking 
and some tact we got through with the loss of another ox (which we 
had to kill and eat), almost as empty-handed as when we entered the 
country. The fate of the two oxen previously started homewards also 
caused some alarm. The heaviest loss at this unfortunate crisis I es- 
timate to be the insects, for as we had entered the Zulu country in the 
middle of winter, it was only at the latter end of the journey that I was 
able to make any additions of the least consequence; therefore all the 
best were with us at the time we were obliged to think only of saving 
our lives. We were, however, no sooner fairly clear of the belligerents 
than we set to work again, and as nothing else offered I had soon a 
goodly collection of bulbs, which are here both numerous and beautiful*. 
As we had crossed the Umpongo, and, to get up the most accessible 
way from the coast to the hills, were obliged to double the head of St. 
Lucia’s Bay, I compute our most distant point on the Drachenberg 
range to have been about 27°, and the average altitude at which we 
made collections about 5000 feet : higher than this it was useless to go, 
for nearly all the time we spent in this we experienced sharp frosts at 
night, and in the day were often so completely enveloped in clouds that 
it was dangerous to venture far from camp; besides which, lions are 
here so numerous as to be a source of continual anxiety. Pursuing 
our way as rapidly as the ruggedness of the country would permit, we 
at length fell in with some natives, and from them learned we were 
near the source of the Tuzella and within a hundred miles of Pieter- 
maritzburg. This lightened our spirits, which were by this time be- 
ginning somewhat to flag, and a seasonable supply of mealies and milk 
did quite as much for our bodies. I continued with the baggage till 
we came once more upon a high road, and then we made the best of 
the way homewards. 
February 27th, 1852.—Have heard of the party left on the hills ; 
they are stopped by the waters. Of those in the Zulu country Ican | 
hear nothing. 
* These have arrived in England, and have been consigned to M mde d 
24, Bloomsbury Square, London, for sale. 
the Royal Gardens. + 
VOL. IV. u 
