320 ADVENTURES IN SOLTH AFRICA. 



I resolved to bring on my wagons to the pass of Sa- 

 ble, where there was sufficient water for all my cattle, 

 my intention being to continue hunting through the 

 forests to the eastward, returning to Bamangwato by 

 a different route. I, however, foresaw that I must 

 give Isaac his dismissal before proposing such a meas- 

 ure : and, accordingly, I rode to camp on the 1st day 

 of August, and informed Mr. Isaac that his valuable 

 services could for the future be dispensed with, request- 

 ing, at the same time, that he w^ould make liimself 

 scarce as quickly as possible. I then explained to my 

 Hottentots my future, course ; and having directed 

 them to inspan and follow me to Sabie, under guid- 

 ance of the natives, I mounted the Old Gray, and start- 

 ed to return to my bower on the bank of the Mahala- 

 pia. The country between Letlochee and Sabie was 

 almost impracticable for wagons, the forest in many 

 parts being extremely dense, and sundry difficult nul- 

 lahs interv^ening. I therefore did not expect them to 

 reach their destination till the afternoon of the follow- 

 ing day. My men, however, did not appear until the 

 evening of the third day. They did not seem at all to 

 fancy the idea of following me further through the wil- 

 derness ; but, finding they could make no better of it, 

 they submitted to their fate ; and no sooner had I turn- 

 ed my back, than Mr. Kleinboy proposed that they 

 should drown their sorrows in the bowl. This brilliant 

 idea was unanimously seconded by all the rest. Axes 

 and hatchets were immediately resorted to, the liquor 

 was obtained, and before I had been gone an hour all 

 hands v.'ere mortal drunk. 



At an early hour on the following day I started with 

 about sixty natives to look for elephants. We filled 

 our water kalabashes at an elephant's hole in the bed 



