242 ADVENTURES IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



rising ground arose in our path, from the summit of 

 which I fancied that a view might be obtained of the 

 country in advance. This view only served to damp 

 my hopes, the prospect exhibiting one slightly undu- 

 lating, ocean-like expanse of forest and dense thorny 

 jungles. 



We halted for a few minutes to breathe the oxen, 

 when the Bechuanas all came up, and sat down on the 

 ground beside us. I asked them why they had not 

 gone home as I had told them. They replied that they 

 followed me because they were afraid that I should lose 

 myself and my oxen. We held on, steering by compass 

 N.N.E. All the Bechuanas now forsook me except the 

 four ill-favored men whom Caachy had pointed out to 

 me as my guides. These four, contrary to my expecta- 

 tions, followed in our wake at some distance. I walk- 

 ed a hundred yards in advance of the wagons with my 

 compass in my hand, having ordered the men to follow 

 my footsteps. After traveling for several hours the coun- 

 try became more open, and presently we entered upon 

 a wide tract that had been recenty burned by the Ba- 

 Kalahari, or wild inhabitants of the desert. Here the 

 trees and bushes stood scorched and burned, and there 

 was not a blade of grass to cheer the eye — blackness 

 and ashes stretched away on every side wherever I 

 turned my anxious glance. I felt my heart sink with- 

 in me as I beheld in dim perspective my famished and 

 thirsty oxen returning some days hence over this hope- 

 less desert, all my endeavors to find water having fail- 

 ed, and all my bright hopes of elephant-hunting dashed 

 and crowned with bitter disappointment : it was, in- 

 deed, a cheerless prospect. I had no friend to comfort 

 or advise me, and I could hear my men behind rae 

 gT'jirbling, and swearing that they would return home, 



