286 THE GREAT THIRST LAND. 



have killed eleven elephants, fourteen lions, beside 

 giraffes, and innumerable antelopes. 



Soon after noon on the third day I trecked from here, 

 amid a crowd assembled to see me off, and numerous 

 were the good wishes showered upon my head by these 

 primitive people, nor was it without regret I left 

 them ; for I commenced to think that a wanderer like 

 myself might do worse than pitch his tent among such 

 simple-hearted, kindly folks. But can one situated as I 

 am give up civilisation for ever ? It is doubtful ; more 

 than that improbable. I have tried it. How often 

 have I left England firmly resolved never to return ? 

 Yet again, and again, and again I find myself back, 

 threading the old familiar streets, and gazing in wonder 

 at the changes the towns and cities have gone through. 

 I often think that the cause of this is I have travelled 

 too much, and that I seek for a country that never will 

 be found namely, where all that is attractive of every 

 climate is combined in one. 



Again, I am not so young as I was ; and where are 

 the youthful hearts and merry faces that stood by me 

 in the Crimea, that sailed with me over the Indian 

 Ocean, that marched by my side over the flat steppes of 

 China ? where are they ? Grone to the spirit land, and 

 I am left, a wanderer on the earth. Would that fate 

 had decreed otherwise ! But it is too late, too late ; and 

 on, on I must drift with the tide till it lands me 

 where ? If we could foretell the future, I would go 

 and see the spot. " Fortune has frowned on us ! fate is 

 adverse to us! luck against us!" we cry out; but believe 

 me, reader, this is an error we make our own destiny. 



Partings, as a rule, are unpleasant, and my late one 

 seems to have given me a heavy attack of the blues ; as 



