IVORY STOLEN. 203 



slightest doubt they would have taken one of us if we 

 had ventured in. 



On the 2d of October, in the morning, we packed 

 the cap-tent wagon, and stowed carefully away in grass 

 my favorite tusks, which I intended to keep as speci- 

 mens. 



The next afternoon, while making for the fountain 

 called Sstoque, accompanied by Kapain and a party 

 -from Bamangwato, I observed a number of crows and 

 vultures^ and came across the spoor of a party of Bak- 

 alah'ari. I at once felt convinced that one of my wound- 

 ed elephants lay rotting near me, but, the sun being 

 nearly under, I did not then wait, resolving to seek it 

 at another time ; Kapain promised to send two of his 

 companions early next morning to see if I had not sur- 

 mised correctly. These men next day arrived, bear- 

 ing some putrid fat which they had got from the Bak- 

 alaliari; and I at once said, "Oh, you have found my 

 dead elephant?" They answered, " Yes, but the tusks 

 are stolen." They also said that they had not seen any 

 others of their tribe, but that they had cut that fat out 

 of the elephant. Kapain then promised me to do his 

 best to recover the ivory for me ; but I found out, very 

 soon afterward, that he was playing me false. Next 

 day I shot an old bull elephant. 



On the 5th I began to think of hunting no more 

 across the Limpopo, as the season of rain was up; and 

 any day 1 might come to the river, returning from hunt- 

 ing, and find myself cut off from camp by a mighty 

 stream, which would probably remain impassable for 

 months. I also wished to save, if possible, one or two 

 of my horses from tha " tsetse," as my stud was now re- 

 duced to five. I therefore resolved to return at once to 

 camp, and cross the Limpopo no more. After an early 



