196 EXPEDITION INTO [Chap. XXII. 



culty lift upon the waggon. Myriads of vultures, 

 and the clouds of smoke which arose from the fires 

 of the giant and his associates, directed us to the 

 spot. In commemoration, I presume, of the exploits 

 of Guy Fawkes, they had kindled a bonfire, which 

 bid fair to destroy all tlie grass in the country, the 

 flames fanned by the wind already beginning to 

 ascend the hills. Nothing can be conceived more 

 horribly disgusting than the appearance presented 

 by the savages who, gorged to the throat, and be- 

 smeared with blood, grease, and filth from the 

 entrails, sat nodding torpidly round the remains of 

 the carcass, sucking marrow from the bones, whilst 

 their lean famished curs were regaling themselves 

 upon the garbage. Every bush was garnished with 

 flaps of meat, and every man had turned beef butcher, 

 whilst swollen vultures* were perched upon the 

 adjacent trees, and others yet ungorged were in- 

 haling the odours that arose. 



The sun set upon us with every demonstration of 

 rain. The night was dark and gusty. Thunder 

 pealing amongst the mountains, and vivid flashes 

 of forked lightning presaged a coming storm ; for- 

 tunately, however, it expended its fury in the hills, 

 and only visited us with a few drops. Before going 

 to bed, I had been gazing for hours upon the sin- 

 gular and sublime effect produced by the extensive 

 and rapidly spreading combustion of the grass. A 

 strong south-easterly wind setting towards the hills, 



* Fultus Fulvus, and Ft/ltus Aurictdaris: AVhite and Black 

 Aas-vogel of the Cape Colonists. 



