64 EXPEDITION INTO [Chap. VIII. 



in my hunting expeditions, which were here parti- 

 cularly successful ; and having obtained a supply of" 

 meat, with the luxuries of snuff and tobacco, for which 

 they were constantly begging, under the denomi- 

 nations of lishuena and muchvko, they composed 

 themselves to sleep, appearing to be in the enjoy- 

 ment of as much happiness as man in a state of 

 mere animal existence probably ever attains. Our 

 little band was also instinctively attended by a host 

 of hungry vultures, who, little disturbed by the pre- 

 sence of man, divided the office of carrion scavengers 

 with hyrenas and jackals. Wheeling in circles 

 high above our heads, like small specks in the 

 firmament, these voracious birds were ever ready to 

 pounce npon game that might be shot, or upon the 

 carcases ofoxen that perished on the road — devouring 

 the largest bodies with a promptitude truly surprising. 

 We had now crossed the unvaried level expanse 

 of the Chooi Desert, and were entering upon a 

 country, which, though equally remarkable for its 

 sameness of appearance, presented a different cha- 

 racter. Immense sandy flats, with a substratum of 

 lime, were uniformly covered with mokaala trees, 

 low thorn bushes, and long grass, interspersed with 

 numerous dry tanks; but no hill or conspicuous 

 object that could direct the footsteps of a wanderer. 

 Before reaching the Siklagole River, twenty-two 

 miles, we passed many extensive villages totally 

 deserted ; rude earthen vessels, fragments of ostrich 

 egg-shells, and portions of the skins of wild animals, 

 however, proving that they had been recently in- 



