22 



CHAPTER XXXV. 



GAME WORTHY OF A SPORTSMAN'S SKILL. 



The river that we are drifting down must be the same 

 as that designated in W. and A. K. Johnston's atlas, 

 the Sabi, more properly Saabia, which enters the sea 

 by several mouths about a degree of latitude south 

 of Sofala. This river must not be confounded with 

 another of the same name, which has its source in 

 Zootspansberg, and flows eastward into the Limpopo, 

 in the vicinity of Oliphants river. As we float on- 

 wards, the scene is constantly changing, although 

 general characteristics mark the whole, viz., hilly and 

 undulating land on the south bank even up to the 

 water's margin, while the northern shore is girded 

 by a mile of " savannah " before the country begins 

 to exhibit a disposition to gaining altitude. Thus 

 the river at our present position is tolerably free 

 from aquatic vegetation on its southern brink ; 

 while to the north, dense reeds fringe its course. 

 Occupied in admiring the beauties of the surround- 

 ing landscape, my attention was called by one of 

 my attendants to the protruding head of a rhinoceros, 

 which was evidently taking stock of the unusual 

 sight of a raft supporting several human beings. 

 The game was well worthy of any hunter's skill, the 

 range short, and a vital point prominent ; but I 



