328 A HUNTER'S WANDERINGS ch. xv 



He also brought a boy about ten years old for sale ; 

 he wanted three fathoms of white linen for him. 

 However, I had none to spare, as our stock was 

 getting very low. A little farther on I shot a very 

 fine reedbuck ram ; its horns measured 1 5 inches along 

 the curve, and I2|- inches taking a straight line 

 from point to base. After this, half an hour's walk 

 brought us to a little river, the Nwongwe, flowing to 

 the south-east ; and another mile, to a few small 

 wretched-looking kraals. In the evening we found 

 that our two new carriers had run away, one of them 

 having met a creditor of his, who threatened him 

 with corporal chastisement if he did not stump up. 

 We at once sent his creditor after him. 



Decembe?' 31.C/. — My birthday. Detained here, 

 owing to our two carriers having decamped yesterday, 

 A hot sunny day. It was now about the hottest time 

 of year, yet the thermometer only registered 84° 

 in the shade, which was from 20" to 25° less than the 

 heat we experienced daily during the six weeks we 

 were on the Zambesi in November and December. 

 Thus ended the year 1877. 



