IN THE AFRICAN WILDERNESS. 71 



by Dr. Livingstone during a day and a night in the 

 African Wilderness in 1860, in the game country: 



"We slept near a lovely spot, with the Zambesi in front, 

 backed by a semicircle of hills, leading to lofty mountains. 

 The number of all sorts of game increases wonderfully every 

 day. As a specimen of what may be met with, we may 

 mention what has actually been seen. 



"On July 3 (1860) a herd of elephants passed within 50 

 yards of our sleeping place, going down to the river. Starting 

 a few minutes before the main body, we come upon large 

 flocks of guinea fowl, and shoot what may be wanted; as we 

 proceed, francolins of three varieties run across the path, and 

 hundreds of turtle doves rise with great blatter of wing, and 

 fly off to the trees. Guinea fowls, francolins, turtle doves, 

 ducks, and geese are the game birds of this district. At sun- 

 rise a troop of pallahs, standing like a flock of sheep, allow 

 the first man of our long Indian file to approach within about 

 50 yards, but having meat we let them trot off unscathed. 

 Soon after we come upon a herd of waterbucks ; we pass 

 on, and see a herd of doe koodoos with a magnificently 

 horned buck or two. Just as we were thinking of breakfast, 

 we meet some buffaloes grazing by the path, but they make 

 off at a heavy gallop at the sight of man. After breakfast 

 we draw near a pond of water, a couple of elephants stand 

 on its bank, and, at a respectful distance behind these 

 monarchs of the wilderness, is a herd of zebras, and another 

 of waterbucks. On plains between us and the river, many 

 antelopes of different species are calmly grazing. Wild pigs 

 are common, and walk about during the day. A mile beyond 

 the pool, three cow buffalo and their calves come from the 

 woods. A troop of monkeys on the edge of the forest, 

 scamper back with loud and angry bark. Early in the after- 

 noon, we see buffalo again and other animals. We camp 

 on the dry higher ground, after driving off a solitary elephant. 

 The nights possess nearly as much of interest as the days. 



