194 EXPEDITION INTO [Chap. XXII. 



duties ; but their natural indolence extending itself 

 even to their recreations, they never hesitated to 

 abandon me at their convenience, in order to divert 

 themselves with the more common species of game, 

 which could be circumvented with little exertion. 

 The savages never accompanied us beyond the 

 carcass of the first large animal slain, upon which 

 having gorged to repletion, they fell fast asleep 

 over the fire. 



On the 5th November, we followed the traces of 

 elephants along the side of the mountains for miles, 

 through stupendous forests, all the Hottentots ex- 

 cepting Piet dropping in the rear in succession, either 

 to solace themselves with a pipe, or to expend their 

 ammunition upon ignoble game. Time not per- 

 mitting us to continue the search, we descended into 

 a valley, bent upon the destruction of a roan 

 antelope,* a large herd of which rare animals were 

 quietly grazing. A pair of white rhinoceroses op- 

 posed our descent, and being unwilling to fire at 

 them, we had some trouble in freeing ourselves from 

 their company. A large herd of wilds wine.f or as 

 Indians term it, a sounder of hog, carrying theii* 

 long whip-like tails erect, then passed in order of 

 review, and immediately after\vards two bull buffa- 

 loes were observed within pistol shot. It was a 

 perfect panorama of game ; I had with great difii- 

 culty restrained Piet from firing, and was almost 

 within reach of the bucks, when a Hottentot sud- 



* Aigrjcerus Equina. Delineated in the African Views. 

 f PhascockcBrus A/ricanus, 



