,144 HUNTING ADVENTURES. 



equally baked throughout its inmost parts. When the foot is 

 supposed to be ready, it is taken out of the ground with pointed 

 sticks, and is first well beaten, and then scraped with an assagai, 

 whereby adhering particles of sand are got rid of. The outside is 

 then pared off, and it is transfixed with a sharp stake for facility 

 of carriage. 



The feet, thus cooked, are excellent, as is also the trunk, which 

 very much resembles buffalo's tongue. The reason why such 

 large fires are requisite is owing to the mass of flesh that must be 

 baked. In raking the sand on the foot, the natives are careful not 

 to rake the red-hot embers in with it, which would burn and destroy 

 the meat ; whereas the sand or earth protects it, imparting an even 

 and steady heat. When the natives have cut up the elephant, 

 and removed the large masses of flesh, &c , to their respective 

 temporary kraals around, they sit down for a little to rest and draw 

 their breath, and for a short time smoking and snuffing are indulged 

 in. 



The Bechuana pipe is of a very primitive description, differing 

 from any I had ever seen. When they wish to srnoke they 

 moisten a spot of earth, not being particular whence they obtain 

 the water. Into this earth they insert a green twig, bent into a 

 semicircle, whose bend is below the said earth, and both ends pro- 

 truding. They then knead the moist earth down with their 

 knuckles on the twig, which they work backward and forward 

 until a hole is established, when the twig is withdrawn, and one 

 end of the aperture is enlarged with the fingers, so as to form a 

 bowl to contain the tobacco. The pipe is thus finished and ready 

 for immediate use, when tobacco and fire are introduced, and the 

 smoker drops on his knees, and, resting on the palms of his hands, 

 he brings his lips in contact with the mud at the small ertd of the 

 hole, and thus inhales the grateful fumes. Large volumes of 

 smoke are emitted through the nostrils, while a copious flow of 

 tears from the eyes of the smoker evinces the pleasure he enjoys. 

 One of these pipes will serve a large party, who replenish the 

 bowl and relieve one another in succession. 



The natives, having drawn their breath, once more do vote then 



