HOW BOER CHILDREN ARE OFTEN LOST. 253 



while lie went to his own conveyance to give instruc- 

 tions to the people in rear of it to be particular to keep 

 the loose stock together, and close up to the wagon. 



In trecking, the point of danger the place, in fact, 

 from which you have most to apprehend from the 

 attacks of wild beasts is the rear, or behind the last 

 wagon, when there are two or more together. It is 

 from this reason that so many Boer and Kaffir children 

 have been carried off by lions, as the favourite seat of 

 these youngsters, and possibly the safest from other 

 kinds of accidents, is the back part of the wagon, on 

 which there is frequently a board slung to serve them 

 as a seat. 



The Notawaney has abrupt and precipitous banks on 

 both sides : here, at dry seasons, the stream does not 

 flow, but is in a succession of deep, stagnant pools, 

 some of which extend a couple of hundred yards in 

 length. 



The sun had been down quite half an hour when 

 I reached the southern bank ; the other wagon was close 

 up, and all the loose cattle in their place. Putting 

 on the brake, down my belongings slid to the bottom ; 

 it was hazardous work, as the darkness had become very 

 intense, so much so that I do not believe the driver 

 could see more than an ox-length in front. When 

 at the bottom we halted for a few minutes. The driver 

 yells, " Amaga!" but the wagon is stuck. Another 

 effort, still it does not move, but Umganey and myself 

 go to the driver's assistance, and through shouting and 

 whipping force the cattle to lay against their yokes, 

 and we slowly climb up the incline. 



This incline resembled an artificial cutting, and was 

 margined on both sidse by a dense growth of trees, ever 



