Chap. XI.] SOUTHERN AFRICA. 85 



question. Our waggon was carefully closed and 

 drawn up under the shelter of a superb grove of 

 trees ; yet the bitter blast that howled without, cut 

 so keenly through the blankets, that it penetrated 

 even to the marrow of our bones. I wrapped my 

 sheep-skin coverlet closer about me, without any 

 sensible advantage ; and my companion, after suc- 

 cessively inducting himself into every article of 

 wearing apparel upon which he could put his hand, 

 still declared himself as cold as ice. 



At daybreak the mercury in Fahrenheit's ther- 

 mometer stood at forty-four degrees, yet to the 

 bodily feelings, the air was still much colder than 

 we had felt it when down to eighteen degrees. We 

 crossed the deep sedgy stream of the Mimori, and 

 ascending to a higher level, were presently met by 

 his Excellency the Deputy- Governor, a tall athletic 

 savage of commanding appearance, blind of the 

 left eye. His attire was of the nature already de- 

 scribed, and saving that he was unarmed, differed 

 in no respect from that of his attendants. A 

 general greeting and hand-shaking ensued — the 

 snuff-box circulated briskly, and we all became 

 capital friends. 



Smoking is not a fashionable vice amongst the 

 Matabili, but all classes are passionately addicted 

 to snuffing — indeed the sharing the contents of your 

 box with a stranger, is the greatest compliment 

 that can be paid to him. The mode of taking it is 

 not unworthy of notice. One-half of the powder 

 having been transferred to the palm of the hand. 



