SUGGESTED ORIGIN OF THE SEWING-MACHINE. 151 



about 7 Ibs. The next in size is black ; very much like 

 our black game, with the exception of the tail : weight 

 about 5^ Ibs. The third is brown; only about one 

 pound lighter in weight than the black. The fourth is 

 about the size of a cock red grouse ; more thickly built, 

 and disposed to sit much more closely than the others. 

 The first and last frequent bushes and corn-fields ; 

 the other two, the open velt. Their call is exactly 

 like their name, co-ran. They belong to the bustard 

 family. 



Although plenty of game was in sight the following 

 day, and several spring-buck were shot by the drivers, 

 I did not leave the wagons, work being cut out for 

 me in the shape of clothes-washing, mending, &c. &c. ; 

 and it is perfectly surprising, if you neglect to attend 

 to it, how the labour accumulates. "A stitch in time 

 saves nine" is as true an adage as ever was spoken. 

 The seam of one of the legs of my trousers had a rip 

 an inch long. I postponed attending to it for a couple 

 of days ; and when I did, it required quite a foot of 

 sewing. Sewing-machines are the invention of the 

 evil one, I believe ; for if the end of a thread that 

 has been stitched by them once gets loose, there is no 

 knowing where it will stop. My African experience 

 has taught me quite a wrinkle : after you wash your 

 moleskin coat and trousers, rinse them out in a solu- 

 tion of Condy's disinfecting powder and water. It 

 has the effect of making them a grand stalking 

 colour, and thoroughly cleanses them of all animal 

 matter. 



We broke up camp early next morning, and in two 

 trecks reached K-hinoster river. During the greater 

 portion of the day we kept disturbing a pretty little 



