216 EXPEDITION INTO [Chap. XXV. 



CHAPTER XXV. 



SHOOTING THE HIPPOPOTAMUS, AND HUNTING 

 IN THE VALLEY OF THE LIMPOPO. 



It was imfortunately requisite^ during the greater 

 part of our journey, to furnish the Hottentots with 

 ammunition for their protection whilst tending the 

 cattle; and their incessant firing, which no remon- 

 strance could control, soon disturbing the whole of 

 the game in our neighbourhood, we found it useless 

 to remain more than one day at any place. Com- 

 pared with the quantity of powder expended by 

 these men, the number of animals they killed was 

 exceedingly limited — the supply of meat for the 

 camp generally depending upon my success ; but 

 the beasts of the forest having been unmolested all 

 their lives, and unaccustomed to the report of the 

 gun, fled before their attacks in consternation, so 

 that within a few hours after the formation of the 

 camp in a spot abounding with game, not a living 

 quadruped was to be seen. 



The country through which we travelled being 

 chiefly characterized by open plains or straggling 

 forests with little undergrowth, it will readily be 

 conceived that wood-craft availed little in the de- 

 struction of game. Many of the species that occur 

 are naturally slow and heavy ; and the gregarious 



