234 THE GREAT THIRST LAND. 



In the evening, before turning in for the night 

 while sitting at my fire, an altercation ensued between 

 two of my attaches a Mashoona and Macalaca over 

 a piece of meat that was broiling. One word led to 

 another, till both became intensely angry, and although 

 I did not understand, they were doubtless using the 

 choicest Billingsgate that they could command. At 

 length both rushed to the wagon. Umganey whispered 

 in my ear, " Assegai, Bass," so I sprang up to prevent 

 them from obtaining these weapons, of which they had 

 tied an abundant supply along its outside. Frustrated 

 in their attempt to arm themselves, they rushed upon 

 each other. I would have interfered, but for my country- 

 man preventing me, who quietly said, "Let them 

 fight it out, or you will have no peace." So I let them 

 do so. 



Immediately they clasped each other and com- 

 menced butting their heads together like a pair of 

 sheep ; the blows were terrific, for they sounded almost 

 as load as a well-executed clap of the hands ; there was 

 no attempt at boxing, only butting, and so effectually 

 was it performed that blood commenced to flow from 

 each of the antagonists' noses. After the lapse of five 

 minutes, employed in this kind of exciting work, both 

 sat down to recover breath to renew the encounter : 

 then I interfered, and in half an hour after I saw the 

 combatants sitting at the same fire and chatting to each 

 other most cordially, as if the past fight had no place 

 even in their memories. 



My host has an immense kraal for his cattle, the 

 walls of which are quite six feet high ; still he is in the 

 act of adding another tier of stones along its top. The 

 reason for this is, that during the wet season he is much 



