OALTON ARRIVES SAFE GOLD MEDAL. 247 



The schooner was to have sailed on the 5th of January ; 

 but, in consequence of the arrival of "The Grecian" man-of- 

 war, then cruising off the West Coast, it was postponed till 

 the next day. As the schooner gradually disappeared from 

 view, I began to feel in full force the loneliness of my situa- 

 tion, and the loss of my friend's company. It would seem 

 that, the farther the object of our esteem and regard is sepa- 

 rated from us, the better we are able to appreciate its value. 

 Galton's excellent disposition and even temper had enabled 

 us to struggle through all difficulties very happily together, 

 and it was, therefore, with sincere regret that I parted from 

 him. I whispered a prayer for his safe return to the bosom 

 of his family. It was heard ; for, though the passage proved 

 of long duration, he reached England in safety, after an ab- 

 sence of two years. 



Not long subsequently to his return, the Royal Geograph- 

 ical Society, I was happy to learn, bestowed upon him their 

 gold medal as a reward for his services in the cause of sci- 

 ence. 



CHAPTER XX. 



Capture of young Ostriches. — Natural History of the Ostrich ; where 

 found; Descrij^tion of; Size; Weight; Age; Voice; Strength; 

 Speed ; Food ; Water ; Breeding ; Incubation ; Cunning ; Stones 

 found in Eggs ; Chicks ; Flesh. — Brain in request among the Ko- 

 mans. — Eggs highly prized. — Uses of Egg-shells. — Feathers an ar- 

 ticle of Commerce. — Ostrich Parasols. — The Bird's destructive Pro- 

 pensities. — Habits. — Kesembles Quadrupeds. — Domestication. — 

 The Chase. — Snares. — Ingenious Device. — Enemies of the Ostrich. 



Ostriches are at all times more or less numerous on the 

 Naarip Plain, but more particularly so at this season, on ac- 

 count of the naras (of^which mention was made in the second 

 chapter) being now ripe. 



WTiile waiting for the missionary vessel, previously to the 



