Chap. XIX,] SOUTHERN AFRICA. 155 



CHAPTER XIX. 



FROM THE MARIQUA RIVER TO TOLAAN, THE 

 RESIDENCE OF MOSELEKATSE'S SON. 



At daybreak the following morning, a large party 

 of hungry savages, with four of the Hottentots on 

 horseback, accompanied us across the river in search 

 of elands, which were reported to be numerous in 

 the neighbourhood. We formed a long line, and 

 having passed over a great extent of country, divided 

 into two parties ; Richardson keeping to the right, 

 and myself to ,the left. Beginning to despair of 

 success, I had shot a hartebeest for the savages, 

 when an object which had repeatedly attracted my 

 eye, but which I had as often persuaded myself 

 was nothing more than the branchless stump of 

 some withered tree, suddenly shifted its position, and 

 the next moment I distinctly perceived that singular 

 form, of which the apparition had ofttimes visited 

 my slumbers — but upon whose reality I now gazed 

 for the first time. It passed rapidly among the 

 trees, above the topmost branches of many of which 

 its graceful head nodded like some lofty pine — it 

 was the stately, the long sought giraffe. Putting 

 spurs to my horse, and directing the Hottentots to 

 follow, I presently found myself half choked with 

 excitement, rattling at the heels of the tallest of all 



