98 A HUNTER'S WANDERINGS ch. 



that W.'s skerm was two days' hard walk from here, 

 in the hills, and a little to the west of where I had 

 been hunting. On hearing this news I at once gave 

 up all idea of returning to the waggons, and so, 

 after burying the ivory in a large hole dug in the 

 soft sand to a depth which I thought would impede 

 any hyasnas from smelling it out, and, by scratching 

 up the sand, exposing it to view, I started back for 

 the hills with my guides. 



On the morning of the third day, we reached W.'s 

 skerm, perched like a crow's nest on the top of a 

 hill, past the foot of which ran a broad sand river, 

 with a thin stream of water meandering down it like 

 a silver wire. The day after leaving Dett, we met a 

 large party of Matabele on their way from their own 

 country, near the sources of the Gwai, to collect salt 

 in a pan amongst the hills ; they all carried war 

 shields, and woe betide any unfortunate Amachankas 

 they might happen to come across ; if they escaped 

 being murdered, they would be infallibly stripped of 

 all their possessions by these unscrupulous marauders. 

 Some of these men knew me, and were very civil. 

 After half an hour's conversation, I continued my 

 journey, several of them following me in the hope 

 that before long I might shoot them some large 

 animal ; and, as luck would have it, before we had 

 proceeded a mile we came upon a black rhinoceros 

 lying asleep, which John and I disposed of without 

 much trouble. 1 only took the meat from the ribs 

 for myself, leaving the remainder of the carcase for 

 the Matabele, who, I think I may safely say, did not 

 leave much of it for the vultures and hyasnas. 



On my arrival at the skerm, I found that W. was 

 away hunting, but late in the evening he returned, 

 and was very much surprised to find me awaiting 



