A BUSH-BOY. 203 



retaining my goods to parting with them upon such 

 doubtful security. 



This decision greatly depressed the spirits of my 

 visitors ; so, as they were really civil enough fellows, 

 and possibly meant honestly, I ultimately agreed to 

 pay them the stipulated price provided they allowed 

 me to accompany them when the capture was made. 

 So the following afternoon I met them at their kraal, 

 from whence we proceeded to a rocky kloof filled 

 with small krantzes thickly covered with brush. 

 In addition to our party was a small Kalihari Bush- 

 boy, a perfect specimen of his race, for, although 

 quite twelve years of age, his height did not exceed 

 forty inches. Ugly he was unquestionably ; in fact, 

 I doubt if it could be possible to find an uglier ; 

 yet these people are such indefatigable hunters, such 

 extraordinary spoorers, and possess such an intimate 

 knowledge of the habits of all animals that frequent 

 their country, united with an affection towards those 

 who treat them kindly, that they cannot fail to be 

 appreciated by the sportsman. After a tedious and 

 exceedingly rough scramble the entrance to a cave was 

 pointed out, the floor of which was covered with fine 

 white sand. This tell-tale, upon inspection, showed 



