266 THE GREAT THIRST LAND. 



built bastard hartebeest. Elephants had been here 

 lately ; their spoor was to be seen all over the neigh- 

 bourhood, and broken and felled trees attested the 

 strength of this mighty rover of the forest. 



The hippopotamus is also found, but not in 

 such abundance as in years gone by. Nevertheless, 

 every morning before the dew has left the grass, his 

 immense tracks are easily recognised. In the forays 

 that this ungainly animal makes nightly in search ol 

 food, it raises its feet so slightly that all that obstructs 

 his passage gets broken down, thus leaving behind a 

 well-marked path. 



Although I did not lose a driver here, I lost a dog, 

 fortunately the very one of my pack that I could best 

 spare ; it was a cross between the bulldog and mastiff ; 

 it possessed not a particle of courage ; and, worse than 

 that, it had a hankering affection for the wagon and the 

 good things that it contained, that made it no easy 

 matter to induce it to follow me. 



"When I purchased the brute I truly thought I had 

 obtained a treasure, and the way he fought with his 

 companions to establish his position made me believe 

 that he would prove a useful and formidable companion 

 in the pursuit of the ferce nature ; but he had not been 

 with me more than a few days when he appeared to 

 lose all heart, and live but to gratify his appetite. 



In these distant countries, and following such a life 

 as I am now doing, the horse becomes one of the most 

 watchful animals you possess. During darkness they 

 will very seldom lie down, because I suppose in that 

 state they could be taken at disadvantage by prowling 

 marauders. The following incident happened in this 

 way. 



