THE FOOD SUPPLY 



2 5I 



It is a fearful nuisance that we cannot live without 

 eating ; such was ordained, so all must submit to it. 

 But for this law of nature, many an animal that I 

 have killed might yet be roaming its native haunts 

 in the full vigour of health and strength. The 

 Creator gave us appetites which have to be satis- 

 fied to sustain our strength. He also doubtless sent 

 the game to be utilised by man for that purpose. 

 This is the best excuse I can find for taking the 

 lives of so many graceful and magnificent members 

 of the brute order. 



The reason I write the above is that I am in- 

 formed the Commissariat Department has come to 

 the end of its supplies, and that fresh ones must be 

 immediately sought for. I have ever found that 

 when your breakfast or your dinner is dependent 

 upon your gun, that instrument invariably takes an 

 obstinate fit and refuses persistently to shoot straight, 

 or possibly an empty stomach and an excessive desire 

 for success make the hunter nervous, or fire too 

 quickly, and so with uncertain aim ; which is the 

 most probable cause, I will leave the reader to 

 decide. 



Having seen my cortege ready for the road — 

 and let me say here, for the advice of future 

 travellers, that no African porter on a long tramp 

 should be asked, or expected, at the utmost, to carry 

 more than thirty-five pounds — I took the advance, 

 accompanied by a Zulu and a Mashoona. The 



