AN UNEXPECTED CATCH. 2Q7 



well imagine the reader asking. It was this. 

 During my absence, and contrary to my orders, the 

 foreloper, to save himself trouble, had turned my other 

 horse out to pasture ; half an hour afterwards it re- 

 turned to the waggons, which it had scarcely reached 

 when it fell down to rise no more. While grazing 

 it had been bitten by a " mamba? immediately over 

 the jugular vein. This snake is one of the most 

 deadly reptiles to be found in all South Africa, 

 whether it is equally so with the cobra of India, my 

 experience does not justify me in deciding. Of this, 

 however, I am certain, that I never knew of a man 

 or beast recovering that had the virtis of this reptile 

 injected into it. 



Thus in one day had my costly expedition been 

 shipwrecked, for without horses I could not supply 

 my people with food. A return to civilization 

 was forced upon me, and I believe my unfeeling 

 followers gloried in my misfortunes. But after all, 

 they are but children of nature, only differing from 

 the educated and christianized by being a trifle less 

 selfish, and more grateful for kindnesses bestowed 

 upon them. The retreat was rather a mournful pro- 

 cession, and only marked by two incidents, viz., by 

 being kept up all night by a party of lions, which 

 seemed resolved at any cost to obtain one of my 

 bullocks. The steadiness of my cattle, and the pluck 

 of my "boys" intimidated the assailants till sun- 

 rise, when the marauding crew thought it expedient 

 to retire. The other event was such an unexpected 

 incident, that it deserves a place among my records 

 of field sports. 



My head driver set a steel trap with the hope of 

 catching a hyaena. Towards morning we heard in 

 the direction that the gin was placed the most 

 violent thumping, spitting and snarling. The dogs, 

 encouraged by our presence, unanimously rushed 

 forth to learn the cause of the unusual disturbance. 



