INTRODUCTION. XiX 



figure of a prostrate lion — how frequently did my 

 thoughts wander to the wilds of Africa, the tales of 

 sport connected with which had ofttimes reached my 

 ears, and how impatiently did I long to make the 

 acquaintance of her motley group of four-footed 

 denizens. As a boy, well do I remember copying 

 and re-copying Bewick's eccentric figure of the gnoo, 

 when I could barely hold a pencil; and often in my 

 dreams, did I see, now at the extremity of a long 

 vista of years, that intervened betwixt me and my 

 furlough, the slender and swan-like neck of the 

 stately giraffe, bowing distantly to our better ac- 

 quaintance ; Behemotli, with his square and mirth- 

 exciting snout protruded from the yellow waters of 

 a vast river, acting the part of master of the cere- 

 monies ; whilst a host of rhinoceroses, supported by 

 gigantic elephants, eccentrically horned antelopes, 

 and other fascinating strangers, awaited their turn 

 of presentation with evident impatience. 



With such strong impressions, it will easily be 

 believed that I scarcely regretted the sentence of a 

 Bombay Medical Board, transporting me for two 

 years to the Cape of Good Hope ; and as this was 

 accompanied with a welcome recommendation to 

 travel, I made preparations, before quitting India, 

 to penetrate into the interior of Africa. It would 

 be injustice to myself, however, to leave an impres- . 

 sion that sport was my only object — for both from 



