130 ADVENTURES IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



do\yn to the missionary's house, ordering my men to 

 inspan. Mahura promised to come thither and take 

 leave of me, but did not keep his word. About mid- 

 day I marched, holding a spoor of three wagons some 

 months old, said to lead me into my old course at Great 

 Chooi. 



On the 20th we reached the bank of the Meritsanc, 

 two miles below my old spoor. On the march we saw 

 for the first time spoor of the black rhinoceros, also pal- 

 lah and koodoo on the mountain, and hartcbeests on the 

 open country. 



On the 22d we marched at early dawn, and, having 

 proceeded about four miles, left the main road to Bak- 

 atla, and held across the country to our right for my 

 old outspanning-place at Lotlokane ; two hours more 

 brought us thither. I did not find the vast herds of 

 game congregated here as usual, water being every 

 where abundant : the grass over the whole country was 

 remarkable, being much higher than my oxen. 



On the 23d, when within two miles of the Molopo, 

 the dogs took up the scent of lions. I then halted my 

 wagons, and, having saddled up two horses, rode with 

 Ruyter in quest of them, accompanied by ten of my 

 dogs, who kept the scent for a short distance, and at 

 last lost it altogether, and went off on the scent of some 

 hartcbeests. I now rode forward to the Molopo, which 

 I made about one mile lower down than the drift. This 

 darling little river is here completely concealed by lofty 

 r^eds and long grass, which densely clothe its margin 

 to a distance of at least a hundred yards. On each 

 side reitbuck were very abundant. On making the 

 river we started one of these. I rode up the river side, 

 and immediately observed two old lions come slowly 

 out from the adjoining cover and slant off toward the 



