44 PREPAKATIONS FOK JOURNEY. 



CHAPTER III. 



Preparations for Journey. — Breaking-in Oxen. — Departure from 

 Scheppmansdorf. — An infuriated Ox. — The Naarip Plain. — The 

 scarlet Flower. — The Usab Gorge. — The Swakop Eiver. — Tracks 

 of Rhinoceros seen. — Anecdote of that Animal. — A Sunrise in the 

 Tropics. — Sufferings from Heat and Thirst. — Arrival at Daviep : 

 great resort of Lions. — A Horse and Mule kiUed by them. — The 

 Author goes in pursuit. — ^A troop of Lions. — Unsuccessful Chase. — 

 Mules' flesh palatable. 



Me. Galton had now so far altered his plans that, instead 

 of proceeding up the country with only one half of his par- 

 ty for the purchase of cattle, it was arranged that we should 

 make the journey together. The wagons and the bulk of 

 our eiFects were to be left at Scheppmansdorf, and we were 

 only to take with us some few articles of exchange, a small 

 quantity of provisions, and a moderate supply of ammunition. 



Finding, however, that the cart could not conveniently 

 hold all our baggage, though now reduced to the smallest 

 quantity possible, it was resolved to pack a portion on oxen. 

 These animals, on account of their great hardihood, are in- 

 valuable in South Africa ; the more so, as they can be equal- 

 ly well used for draft, the " pack," or the " saddle." But as 

 we had no cattle trained for either of these purposes, and 

 only one or two were procurable at the missionary station, 

 we were necessitated, prior to our departure thence, to break 

 in a few. No easy matter, by-the-by; for oxen are of a 

 \wild and stubborn disposition, and it requires months to 

 make them tractable. We were, however, totally at a loss 

 how to set to work. 



But fortunately, at this time, Mr. Galton had engaged a 



