GiiAP. XXXIII.] SOUTHERN AFRICA. 293 



carousing over a carcass. I slunk silently back to 

 my den, fully impressed with the necessity of re- 

 maining perfectly quiet, but scarcely hoping that 

 my horse would be so fortunate as to escape the ob- 

 servation of these lynx-eyed vagabonds. 



The uneasy snorting of my unfortunate steed, and 

 his constant efforts to get loose, soon apprized me 

 of the presence of lions at no great distance to 

 windward, but the fear of attracting my two-legged 

 enemies to the spot prevented my kindling a fire 

 for his protection, or even for dressing a koorhaan* 

 with which I had taken care to provide myself. 

 Dying of hunger, and my "girdle of famine"! 

 tightened to the last hole, I felt strangely tempted to 

 devour my Christmas repast uncooked. About mid- 

 night, however, having prepared a deep oven, I ven- 

 tured to light a fire, and the fowl being duly baked 

 and disposed of, I presently betook myself to sleep. 



The following morning set in with tremendous 

 rain. Drenched, cold, and cramped, I arose from 

 my aquatic bed, and at once perceived that all hope 

 of finding the trail of our waggons was at an end. 

 The soil consisting chiefly of a red loamy earth, 

 from which the faintly marked tracks were easily 

 obliterated, I resolved to follow the course of the 

 river several miles farther to the westward ; and 

 then, should I fail in finding the waggons, to cross 

 the country in a direct line to the conical hill, which 



* Florican. 

 f The leathern strap worn round the waist is called by the 

 savages a lumbele strap, or hunger-girdle. 



