272 THE GREAT THIRST LAND. 



land covered with timber ; but farther down the stream's 

 course it must be more beautiful still, for its progress 

 seems to be interrupted by high hills. But there the 

 wayfarer, accompanied by horses and bullocks, cannot 

 enter, for the tsetse-fly has its home among them. 



While walking in front of my wagon, for I am now 

 by compulsion a pedestrian, I observed great numbers 

 of secretary birds in search of their prey snakes. 

 As nobody ever shoots or molests them, they are 

 very tame, and evince no fear of man even when 

 within twenty or even fewer yards. They are of a 

 slate colour, and about the size of the Kaffir crane, with 

 a formidable eagle-shaped beak, and a very large, harsh- 

 expressioned black eye. They do not walk or hop, but 

 march along with strides so long and regular that it 

 suggests to the beholder that they are assuming a means 

 of progression playing a part to attract attention. 

 That snakes are abundant in the locality is obvious, or 

 they would not be here. 



I had the fortune to witness a combat between one 

 of them and its prey ; as I was within a short distance I 

 was able to see the fight from beginning to end. The 

 bird rushed forward to seize its victim, but the latter 

 being on the alert, this was not accomplished. The 

 attacking party then strutted round, holding out the 

 termination of its wing to be struck at by the snake. 

 This occurred many times till the assailed made a false 

 blow, and in a moment the bird had it in its powerful 

 beak, and flew up with it aloft, quite two hundred 

 yards, then dropped the reptile, descending after it with 

 the velocity of a hawk. Again and again this was 

 repeated, till, I suppose, the snake being dead, it was 

 carried off to a quiet retreat to be made a meal of. 



