294 HUNTING FAVOURITES 



certain time, or possibly not find it at all, is done 

 away with. An excess of water may be the cause 

 of many ills to the human family, but the want of it 

 is simply death, not only to man, but to every live 

 creature with him, and on whom his progress and 

 comfort depend. 



But where my camp is, and where I wish the 

 reader, in mind at least, to accompany me, there is 

 no fear that we shall suffer from want of the above 

 necessary of life, and the appearance of my servants, 

 horses, dogs, and cattle will soon convince the 

 visitor that such is the case. It is not necessary for 

 him to be a judge of condition to be satisfied on 

 this point, for comfort and contentment reign over 

 all, from the herculean Matabele to the pigmy bush 

 boy ; from the powerful wire-haired greyhound 

 to the vicious Skye terrier ; from the wary, ever 

 watchful baboon, to the little black-faced grey 

 monkey or sleek domestic tabby that purs in con- 

 tentment on his favourite seat, the dissel-boom 

 or pole of one of my bullock waggons. 



Plenteous and nutritious pasture here abounds, 

 while the whole landscape over is dotted with nume- 

 rous trees, many of which are fruit bearing. But fruit 

 in its wild state never equals in size and flavour what 

 has been cultivated, for, as a rule, the stone will be 

 found out of all proportion in size to the edible part. 

 The preponderating species of trees will generally be 

 found to be the boabab, the meruley, Indian fig 



