192 THROUGH THE FOREST. 



first crow of one of these birds at the dawning of the 

 29th September, roused me from sleep, and in a few 

 minutes I was on the bank. The moon was still 

 shining on the sleeping forms of the Makololo, and 

 Chinsoro, who was to come with me, was busy at 

 a fire making coffee. Having called Moloka, I was 

 soon ready, and ere I had finished my coffee and 

 eggs, three of Maramia's men made their appearance, 

 and said it was time to start. As these natives told 

 me that from the time we left the river till we re- 

 turned we should find no water, four bottles were 

 filled for my use, while they carried some for them- 

 selves in a goat-skin. We left camp without even 

 awaking any of the remainder of our party. 



As we walked along through the forest, before 

 there was yet light to see far, my principal guide in- 

 formed me that there were plenty of waterbuck, &c., 

 in these parts ; but I told him that, as we were going 

 to look for larger game, it would not do to fire at these, 

 as my guns made so much noise, that one shot would 

 disturb the forests for miles. In reply, he said, 

 "The elephants are a long way ofi" ; you may shoot 

 nyama " (small game — meat) " without danger of 

 frightening them." So I promised to tiy. 



Shortly after daylight had dawned, while walking 

 through a light part of the forest, I saw a herd of 

 waterbuck about a hundred and fifty yards ahead 

 of me, feeding within sixty yards of a large ant- 

 hill. 



Telling the men to sit down, I took the Rig- 

 by 10, and commenced stalking them, making the 

 ant-hill act as a screen between us. There was 



