170 EXPEDITION INTO [Chap. XX. 



which actually stood sometime between the wag- 

 gons. 



Several hours'diligent search the next day brought 

 us upon a herd of twelve cameleopards. We pur- 

 sued them a considerable distance, and repeatedly 

 wounded the largest, a gigantic male, probably 

 eighteen feet in height ; but our famished horses 

 falling repeatedly into the numerous holes with 

 which the ground was covered, we at length became 

 convinced of the impossibility of humbling the lofty 

 head of the giraffe, until our steeds should have 

 improved in condition upon the fine pasturage 

 which now abounded. The day was sultry and the 

 glare distressing. To the north-eastward, the dis- 

 tant prospect was bounded by a range of blue 

 mountains which we visited some weeks afterwards ; 

 the whole of the extensive plain being sprinkled 

 with huge mokaala trees, mat rushes, and thistles. 

 Large herds of elands were grazing amongst these, 

 the host of savages by which we were attended 

 quickly clearing away the carcases of those we 

 slew, and then quarrelling for the entrails. I hope 

 my reader has understood that these barbarians 

 generally devour' the meat raw, although when at 

 leisure they do not object to its being cooked. 

 They usually seize a piece of the flesh by the teeth, 

 cutting a large mouthful of it with the assagai close 

 to the lips, before masticating it, which they do with 

 a loud sputter and noise. The meal being finished, 

 they never failed to wipe their hands on their bodies, 

 and then being generally gorged, they lay them- 



