CHAPTER VII 



A park-like country — I stay behind for lion — No money or meat — Mule 

 and donkey stolen — An awkward dilemma — A friend in need — A 

 night near lions and elephants — I pursue the caravan — The main 



camp The others gone to the capital — I overtake them — A polite 



official — A long march — Mahomed finds a friend — Shoa men and 

 women — A message from the palace. 



We turned out before 2 a.m., and in the dark marched 

 past several large villages and into country resembling 

 an English jDark. Fine single trees, mostly mimosas, 

 little copses, bramble-thickets, and open grassy glades 

 reminded me of the scenery of the New Forest. 

 Althouo-h I had no guide, and was very doubtful about 

 the direction in which the caravan was going, the 

 prospect was too tempting, and, as soon as it became 

 light, I struck off to the left, till I found myself on 

 the banks of the Cubanoar, which was here a wide, 

 shallow stream flowing over a stony bed. We saw 

 both lesser kudu cows and waterbuck, besides tracks of 

 elephant and bushbuck, as we made a detour. Eventu- 

 ally we again struck the road, but the caravan had 

 not passed, and we had to retrace our steps for some 

 distance before we found it, then pitching camp at 



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