Chap. XXI.] SOUTHERN AFRICA. 183 



larger than an ant-hill, almost to rival the Alps in 

 grandeur. 



Whilst the Hottentots were engaged in making 

 a fence for the cattle^ I entered one of the nearest 

 groves for the purpose of obtaining food for the 

 people, and presently brought down a water-buck,* 

 a rare and splendid antelope, which is not to be 

 met with until after crossing the Mariqua. , The 

 report of my rifle disturbed a lion and lioness from 

 a bush close by, and they instantly slunk into the 

 jungle. Having covered up the carcass with bushes, 

 I returned to the waggons, and found that Piet 

 had already arrived with an abundant supply of 

 gnoo's flesh. He, too, had narrowly escaped stumb- 

 ling over a lion in long grass. These troublesome 

 beasts appeared to be so numerous, that we made a 

 more substantial fence than usual for the oxen, and 

 had no reason to regret having taken the .precau- 

 tion ; as numbers were roaring and prowling round 

 the camp towards morning, endeavouring to effect 

 an entrance. 



Over the evening fire,'Lingap favoured us with the 

 particulars that he had been able to collect regard- 

 ing the attack on the emigrant farmer.*, extolling 

 Kalipi's bravery to the skies. Himself a warrior of 

 tried courage, he had formed one of the commando 

 that captured Erasmus's waggons. His eyes glis- 

 tened as he spoke of the pleasure he had derived 

 from feeling his spear enter white flesh. It slipped 

 in, he said, grasping his assagai and suiting the ac- 

 * Aigocerus Ellipsiprymntts. Delineated in the African Views. 



