CHALLENGED BY A HONEY-BIRD. 269 



When turned out to feed in the morning, contrary 

 to his habit instead of commencing grazing he went 

 and lay down. Umganey called my attention to the 

 circumstance ; but, not being conversant with horse - 

 sickness and its symptoms, I thought nothing of the 

 matter, but went out to shoot some guinea-fowl or 

 francolins. On my return, about eleven o'clock, I pro- 

 ceeded to look at my poor little beast ; he was evidently 

 very ill, and so restless that he could not lie still in the 

 sequestered corner he had chosen ; during a quarter of 

 an hour I was with him he must have got up and lain 

 down four or five times. The symptoms of the disease 

 that showed themselves now were great puffiness over 

 the eyes, which themselves seemed to have lost all lustre, 

 great swelling beneath and between the jaw-bones, a hot 

 crusted nose, a staring coat, with much sweating along 

 the flanks. I was perfectly helpless to relieve him I 

 had never heard of a cure, and the sufferer appeared too 

 far gone to be benefited, even if I did. 



As the horse could not travel in this state, I gave 

 orders for trecking to be postponed till the morrow, 

 and, accompanied by a Macalaca the fellow who shot 

 the ox went out to shoot. About a mile from home 

 we struck the spoor of some giraffes, but it was too stale 

 to follow. This is the first of their long slipper-like 

 footprints I have seen. At this time a honey-bird came 

 and challenged us to follow it, we did so for half an 

 hour, when it led us to a very large mimosa-tree, with 

 one of its limbs torn off. My attendant ascended it, 

 and procured about a pound of beautiful honey, in a 

 comb as white as snow. The natives, but I am not of their 

 opinion, firmly believe that this bird is not to be trusted 

 that it will frequently lead those who follow it up to 



