UNFAVOURABLE CONDITIONS 201 



ledges and I was able to trace a narrow vein 

 of galena for a considerable distance. A syste- 

 matic examination of the geological formation 

 of that region would have been of great interest. 



There was little or no animal life, and what 

 little existed did not add to one's comfort. 

 While the sun was shining existence was made 

 a burthen by a blue fly which continually fed 

 on one ; it was about the size of a horse-fly. 

 The bite, not felt at the time, was followed 

 by a flow of blood and afterwards caused con- 

 siderable irritation. We killed several poison- 

 ous snakes. The only antelopes we saw were 

 klipspringers, but they were too far off to 

 shoot, and our time was too limited to admit 

 of our pursuing them. 



Mr. Hein had told me that there was a small 

 troop of zebras to be found high up on the 

 T'Oums Mountain. The mountain zebra is 

 the wariest animal alive ; it never lies down, 

 but sleeps in a standing posture, with the 

 muzzle resting on a stone. 



I spent another day prospecting in the 

 vicinity but could find no more gold. When, 

 in the evening, we were sitting at the camp 

 fire, an idea struck me. I then determined to 

 take some food, a kaross, the guns and the 

 collecting plant, and pay a flying visit to the 



