XVI OUR SLAVE DECAMPS 339 



hastily constructed hut was by no means proof 

 against its violence, we got a pretty good dousing. 

 In the morning all our blankets and traps were so 

 wet and uncomfortable that we thought it best to 

 remain where we were, and dry our things. 



January i^th. — The Kafir I bought from the 

 Portuguese ran away, throwing down in the middle 

 of the forest a very valuable breech-loading elephant 

 gun. This, by following on his footsteps, we 

 recovered. However, the villain' had gone off with 

 all our corn — a matter of the most vital importance 

 in the present state of famine — and all my Martini- 

 Henry cartridges. 



January ^oth. — Last night we had an awful 

 night's rain, and got very wet. Coming in, we were 

 much delayed and hindered by the constant rain, 

 which fell night and day ; now it was just the same 

 again. Everything seemed against us. 



January 31 J'/. — Cool, cloudy day ; looking very 

 rainy. However, the rain held off, and we pushed 

 on to the next town. I was now fast recovering 

 from the fever, and, in spite of the wretched food 

 we had to live upon, getting strong again ; Owen, 

 however, was getting weaker. 



February. — During the next ten days we made 

 very small progress, as Owen was very ill and weak, 

 and could not stand the walking. Comparatively 

 speaking, I was myself now almost well again. The 

 food, too, was now improving, as the mealies were 

 getting ripe, and the pumpkins too. Owing to the 

 slow rate at which we had been travelling, and the 

 excessively high price of provisions, our 'calico was 

 now reduced to two and a half pieces, and, at the 

 same rate of expenditure, could not hold out until we 

 reached Mendon^a's ; and when our calico was gone. 



