vi PREFACE. 



Excitement of some kind they must have ; so the 

 choice is between the nearest canteen, where drinking 

 to excess and gambling on credit are rampant, or to 

 shooting, fishing, and hunting. In pursuit of these 

 last mentioned the sojourner returns home to his un- 

 attractive shanty too tired and too hungry to again 

 go forth, yet invigorated and strengthened by his 

 exercise. In the pursuit of the former, property, 

 health, and reputation are soon alike lost. Believe 

 me, your boys, when away from paternal control in 

 foreign lands, must have excitement ; and the excite- 

 ment derived from the chase is much healthier than 

 that inhaled in a pot-house. Good morning, Mr. 

 Bureaucrat, and may my remarks do you good." 



I did not go into the country that this work treats 

 of to make money by trading, but to see this little- 

 known part of Africa, and enjoy the Field Sports it 

 afforded ; thus it may be that I take a more favourable 

 view of its inhabitants than other visitors have. 



There was as much romance in the realities of 

 my life there, as the most inventive genius could 

 invest fiction with. 



As the perusal of this book may induce some of 

 its readers to visit Bechuana Land, I will here give 

 a list of those persons who furnished my outfit, and 

 to whom I am in no small degree indebted for much 

 of my enjoyment. 



