Chap. XX.] SOUTHERN AFRICA. 169 



the Mariqiia River. The country here is generally 

 undulating, extensive mimosa groves occupying 

 all the valley, as nell as the banks of the Tolaan 

 River, which winds amongst them on its way to 

 join the Mariqua. We had not proceeded many 

 hundred yards before our progress was opposed by 

 a rhinoceros, who looked defiance, but took the hints 

 we gave him to get out of the way. Two fat elands 

 had been pointed out at the edge of the grove the 

 moment before, one of which Richardson disposed 

 of with little difficulty, but the other led me through 

 all the intricacies of the grove to a wide plain on 

 the opposite side, immediately on emerging upon 

 which the fugitive was prostrate at my feet in the 

 middle of a troop of giraffes, who stooped their 

 long necks, astounded at the intrusion, and in 

 another moment were sailing away at their utmost 

 speed. To have followed them upon my jaded 

 horse would have been absurd, and I was afterwards 

 unable to find them. Returning to the camp after 

 killing several elands and rhinoceroses, besides 

 other game, which the savages quickly took charge 

 of, I was furiously charged by a herd of horned 

 cattle, and my horse being much exhausted, I had 

 no small difficulty in escaping their persecution. 

 Objecting, I presume, to my garb or complexion, 

 they pertinaciously pursued me through thickets 

 and over ravines, regardless of the loud whistle 

 of the herdsman, to which they are usually very 

 obedient. During the night, our camp was thrown 

 into disorder by the intrusion of a rhinoceros, 



I 



