II WILD DOGS 



15 



formed a strong friendship, which 1 hope may 

 never be broken. As he was just starting upon 

 a trading trip to the Matabele country, where he 

 had been before, I was only too glad to be able to 

 travel in company with him, and to benefit by his 

 experience. 



We left Secheli's on the 28th of June, before 

 which time our burnt faces would not bear exposure 

 to the sun. The delay, however, enabled our oxen 

 to get a thorough rest before starting on the severe 

 piece of road between Secheli's and Bamangwato. 

 Starting in the evening and travelling all night, we 

 reached Kopong early the following morning, but we 

 were not able to get water for our oxen until late on 

 the afternoon of the second day. As soon as they 

 had drunk, we inspanned and pushed on again, 

 knowing they would drink no more before arriving 

 at Boatlanarma. We had even more trouble getting 

 through the heavy, sandy roads than I had expected, 

 for Mandy's heavily-laden waggon had a knack of 

 sticking fast, when I had to unyoke my bullocks and 

 pull it on a bit. Thus we were three days and nights 

 trekking continuously before we reached water, and 

 our poor oxen were in a terrible state from thirst. 

 At Selinya, a fine roadside vley, about twenty miles 

 beyond Boatlanarma, we first saw the spoor of a lion 

 in the soft mud at the water's edge. That same 

 evening, sitting by our fire, we heard a splashing, 

 then a sort of groan, and running down with fire- 

 brands to the vley, discovered first blood, then 

 entrails, then a dead impala antelope. It had been 

 killed by wild dogs, and although we were upon 

 them almost immediately, they had found time to 

 tear away the greater part of their victim's hind- 

 quarters. We were much obliged to the wild dogs 



