212 EXTRAORDINARY VISITATION. 



once, but was unable to elicit a reply. Thinking, however, 

 that he might have returned to our encampment (which was 

 at no great distance), I also repaired there. But " Bill" had 

 not been heard of. The harassing suspicion at once crossed 

 my mind that the lions had eaten him. Without a moment's 

 delay, I hurried back to the spot where I had last seen the 

 beasts, but all my endeavors to find the poor fellow were 

 unavaiUng. What with anxiety on his account, and my ex- 

 ertions under a broiling sun (for if the weather was frosty 

 at night, it calcined one by day), I was unable to proceed 

 farther, and sat myself down on the ground to wait for the 

 arrival of the wagons, which were now moving forward. 

 Just at this moment, the Damara, to my inexpressible de- 

 light, emerged from the bush. His story was soon told. 

 He had, like myself, lost his way, and it was long before he 

 was able to recover the right track. 



One morning, as we were about to yoke the oxen, we were 

 amused to see them suddenly start off in every direction in 

 the wildest confusion, and cutting the most ridiculous capers. 

 The cause of this commotion was the arrival of a large flock 

 of the huphaga Africana, which alighted on the backs of the 

 cattle for the purpose of feeding on the ticks with which their 

 hides are covered. By means of their long claws and elastic 

 tails, these birds are enabled to cling to and search every part 

 of the beast. It was evident, however, that our oxen had 

 never experienced a similar visitation ; no wonder, there- 

 fore, that they were taken somewhat aback at being thus 

 unceremoniously assailed. 



The huphaga Africana is also a frequent companion of the 

 rhinoceros, to which, besides being of service in ridding him 

 of many of the insects that infest his hide, it performs the 

 important part of sentinel. On many occasions has this 

 watchful bird prevented me from getting a shot at that beast. 

 The moment it suspects danger, it flies almost perpendicu- 

 larly up into the air, uttering sharp, shrill notes, that nev- 



