THE BAOBOB-TKEE ENCASIP IN THE WOODS. 415 



taken up their abode a little in advance of us, " whose stom- 

 achs rested on their knees, and whose whole aspect was of 

 the most unnatural and ferocious character." 



About noon on the same day we were again en route. 

 Instead of feeling our way by the zigzag tracks made by 

 rhinoceroses and other wild beasts, our guides now took us a 

 straight cut across the country, which was densely wooded. 



The " wait-a-bit" thorns were extremely harassing, tearing 

 to ribbons our clothes, carosses, and even pack-saddle bags, 

 made of strong ox-hide. Notwithstanding the wooded char- 

 acter of the country, it affords excellent pasturage ; and the 

 numerous old wells and pits found between Tunobis and the 

 Ngami clearly indicate that these regions have, at no very 

 remote period, been largely resorted to by some pastoral 

 people. 



I hoped to reach the Lake by the evening, but sunset 

 found us still at a distance from the object of our enterprise. 

 We encamped in a dense brake, near to which were several 

 gigantic baobob*-trees, the first we had seen ; the stems of 

 some we judged to be from forty to sixty feet in circum- 

 ference. Finding abundance of fuel, the wood was soon il- 

 luminated by numerous watch-fires, around which, besides 

 ray own party, were grouped many a merry and laughing 

 savage, each with his shield planted as a guard behind him. 

 Altogether, the scene was striking and picturesque. 



The return of daylight found us again on the move. The 

 morning being cool and pleasant, and our goal near, the 



* "The baobob," says Mr, Livingstone, "the body of -which gives 

 one the idea of a mass of granite, from its enormous size, yields a fruit 

 about the size of a quart bottle ; the pulp between the seeds tastes like 

 cream of tartar, and it is used by the natives to give a flavor to their 

 jiorridge." Mr. Green writes me that plants have been raised in En- 

 gland of the baobob from seeds brought home by his son, Frederick 

 Green, who is at present treading in my tracks in the interior of South- 

 western Africa. For further details of the baobob, see "Saturday 

 Magazine" for the year 1832. 



