A NIGHT SCENE. 



penetrated, returning by a more northerly route to 

 Cape Town. His first book of Travels contains an 

 account of this expedition. It is full of lively 

 descriptions, pictures of his chases of the elephant 

 and rhinoceros, of his faithful Hottentots, and of 

 the various incidents of his life in the wilds. 



As I have said, the simplicity and innocent 

 boyish enthusiasm of Le Vaillant impart an air of 

 romance to his pages. What, for example, can be 

 more amusing than the following picture of a night 

 scene in the wilds ? 



" Returning one morning to the camp, I per- 

 ceived a stranger on horseback advancing. It was 

 a Hottentot with letters for me sent on from the 

 Cape ; they were the first I had received since my 

 departure. These letters were from my dearest 

 friend my wife ! I cannot describe my impa- 

 tience on taking the packet from the messenger. 

 Eagerly my eyes glanced over the lines. All were 

 well and happy. I was beloved and regretted ; 

 affection followed me though in a desert, filling 

 my heart with tender remembrances. . . . 



" That night I was rather too generous in the 

 distribution of my tobacco, having given my people 

 enough to occasion intoxication ; this, however, I 

 was now contriving means to prevent. After 

 having drank my tea, I ordered a box to be brought 

 and placed before me, which, opening with an air 



