Occasional JS^otes. 121 



^^ Ostriches. 

 " From this point, under the guidance of Mr. Brukhuysen, 

 the party went a two days' journey into Gazaland. On the 

 second day out an extensive plain, studded with clumps of 

 bush, tall trees, and with a dense underwood, was reached. 

 Ostriches were seen on the plain and wildebeeste and sable 

 antelope also, but the dense nature of the bush made shooting 

 difficult. They, however, bagged one fine antelope, the skin 

 and horns of which they preserved for setting up, and saw 

 and visited an Ostrich nest which contained 21 eggs, of which 

 Dr. Turner took two as specimens. On their return to 

 ■'Mhlope the party passed through a country where they 

 sighted sasebi, but unfortunately did not get within shooting- 

 distance. Here also Paauws were very plentiful, and several 

 were bagged. Ducks and Geese were innumerable, but very 

 wild. In the river crocodiles could be seen three and four at 

 a time, and some fine barbel were caught when the party got 

 back to the Tswali Lake. Returning to the Kolwen, a man 

 met them, who volunteered, for a consideration, to take them 

 to a place where hippos were to be found. The offer was 

 accepted, and they started on a toilsome journey in a dug- 

 out canoe, and then by land to a small vlei, where, whilst 

 hippo spoor and dung were plentiful, none of the animals 

 were to be seen. It was then sunset, and, as the guide 

 refused to go any further, his consideration at the end of the 

 journey only amounted to one shilling, which he accepted 

 with bad grace. 



" The Kolwen was safely negotiated the next day, and the 

 boats once more started down the Incomati. The character 

 of the counti'Y had changed, and instead of high well-grown 

 trees right down to the banks of the river, with clear shallow 

 water and a yellow sand, they now passed through enormous 

 marshes covered with high cane reeds, the water being deep 

 and no longer clear. On the second day down they heard 

 that 



Buffalo 



were to be found in the neighbourhood, and they obtained 



