PAUW SHOT. 245 



This was a most unexpected piece of good luck, for I 

 not only got a comfortable meal but a bed. The owner 

 was a young man, and going in the same direction as 

 myself, so that *I should now have company, the greatest 

 boon I could desire. 



His encampment was abundantly supplied with large 

 fires, for he possessed two valuable saulted horses, and 

 lions were known to be in the neighbourhood. About 

 ten we both turned in, but sleep I could not, for the 

 wagon actually swarmed with bugs, so I came forth 

 and passed the remainder of the night on the wagon- 

 box. 



I was, further, very uneasy about my belongings, for 

 I feared that, during my absence, proper precautions 

 would not be taken to insure their safety. However, 

 an hour after sunrise I heard the squeaking of a 

 wheel that required grease ; I looked up and beheld my 

 ship of the desert slowly lumbering along towards us. 

 All was safe, although the cattle had spent a restless 

 night. 



Halting the wagon I had the complaining wheel 

 attended to, and gave the driver apiece of my mind for 

 neglecting so important a portion of his duties. Next 

 afternoon we approached the Notawaney, and must have 

 seen during the afternoon treck thousands of guinea- 

 fowls and francolins. 



I shot a pauw, a bird weighing over fifty pounds' 

 weight ; it is a member of the bustard family, and 

 possesses beautiful plumage. I consequently selected 

 the choicest of its feathers for the benefit of some of my 

 salmon-fishing friends. 



