FORMIDABLE BUSH 0)7 



starting ; this may have been partially caused by 

 my hoping for an immediate introduction to the 

 game, : but that desired issue was still further off 

 than anticipated. 



The ground we had now to traverse was covered 

 with dense bush, I should say of the average height 

 of ten feet, and those who have shot in the colony 

 know well what severity of labour it requires to get 

 through such impediments. To the inexperienced 

 it seems a hopeless task, for it looks interminable 

 and resultless ; but perseverance, that valuable 

 quality, will work wonders, and release you from 

 your labours when, probably, least expected. 



I have been through many, many pieces of 

 African bush, both before and since the period I am 

 writing of, but never in my experience traversed 

 such a one as this. In it was to be found every 

 variety of thorn I know of, the wacht-embeche pre- 

 dominating, which at times would so tie me up, that 

 to regain my release, by compulsion I had tc have 

 recourse to my knife. It is not, however, so much 

 being bound by this accursed climber, for then pro- 

 bably only your clothes suffer, but to have them go 

 rasp, rasp, rasp across your face and hands, drawing 

 blood plentifully in their progress, that is the 

 agony. 



The unclothed natives suffer from the thorns of 

 these lacerating vines, there is no doubt ; for I have 

 seen their limbs and bodies perfectly scored by 



