XIX OXEN DYING FROM THIRST 421 



to reach the phice where Mr. French was keeping 

 guard over them. The oxen, however, having 

 walked along unencumbered, were still pretty fresh, 

 and being inspanned at once brought them, on the 

 third day (having been all this time without water), 

 to the hard ground on the Mababe side of the great 

 sand-belt, and not more than twelve miles distant 

 from the pan where my waggons were standing. 

 They were then sent on to the water, and my friend's 

 own oxen went and brought the waggons down to 

 the pan. All things considered, I think we had good 

 reason to congratulate ourselves upon having safely 

 traversed the immense waterless tract of country, 

 which now lay between us and Sode-Garra, with the 

 loss to my friends of only a few oxen. 



A fortnight later, after we had started to hunt in 

 the " fly " country, some of Khama's waggons arrived 

 from Bamangwato, in charge of several of his head- 

 men, who had come in in charge of hunting parties, 

 and to collect tribute from the Bushmen. They lost 

 fourteen oxen from thirst, though their waggons 

 were absolutely empty, and their bullocks fresh and 

 fat when they left Bamangwato, whilst our waggons 

 were all heavily laden, which makes a very great 

 difference in a heavy sandy road. Messrs. CoUison 

 and French had started from the Diamond Fields in 

 company with my oil friend and former hunting- 

 companion, Mr. Matthew Clarkson. He, poor 

 fellow, was, however, struck by Hghtning near Klerks- 

 dorp, in the Transvaal, at the very outset of the 

 journey. Mr. Collison was inside the waggon, and 

 within a few feet of him when poor Matt was struck, 

 and was himself stunned by the shock. The fire of 

 heaven, that could scarcely have lighted on a better 

 fellow, struck him right on the head, and boring a 



