48 LODGES IN THE WILDERNESS 



skin had been stretched out and spalked down 

 to dry on the hot sand, we cut up and slightly 

 salted the meat, preparatory to its being 

 packed together and rolled in sacking. Next 

 day it would be hung out on lines to dry into 

 " bultong." The head was a beauty ; the horns 

 measured 41J inches. That night the jackals 

 from far and near would pick up the scent and 

 prowl, yonking and yowling, about the camp. 

 The less cowardly among them would steal up 

 ■ — almost to our very hearth. Consequently we 

 should have to avoid leaving unprotected any- 

 thing capable of being chewed. The jackal is 

 the Autolycus of the desert. 



In the afternoon I explored the south- 

 western flank of the main dune. So light was 

 the sand that in parts I sank almost knee-deep. 

 Jackals were to be seen everywhere; one won- 

 dered how such a number could manage to 

 eke out a livelihood in so barren a locality. 

 From one hollow, — a cup-shaped depression 

 scooped out by some recent wind-eddy, seven- 

 teen of these animals emerged. They were too 

 far away to fire at, for I had left my rifle in 

 camp and brought a shot-gun. There was no 

 other sign of animal life. 



Fold upon fold — utterly, unspeakably arid — 

 the flank of the main dune sinuated away to- 



