290 THE GREAT THIRST LAND. 



the mouth, of the sucker, after which it is most adroitly 

 squirted into an ostrich shell. Of course no European, 

 except in extremis, would drink fluid thus treated. Still, 

 I knew a noble colonel, who can frequently be seen in 

 " the Bow " during the season, who was only too glad 

 to obtain a supply of water thus procured. 



The callosities upon these poor creatures' bodies were 

 fearful to look at : they doubtlessly are formed from 

 lying upon the hard ground, without any intermediate 

 substance to shield them from its irregularities. You 

 should have seen the comical expression of delight in 

 the two youngsters' faces when I handed each a large 

 stick of beltong ! 



A good-sized piece of wildebeest, and a gallon and 

 a half of cold mealy-meal porridge, gladdened the old 

 people, who at once commenced to light a fire and make 

 themselves comfortable. 



It is really surprising how these people manage to 

 exist; that they are not devoured by wild animals seems 

 also extraordinary, for their home is in their haunts, yet 

 they take no precautions for their safety. If the truth 

 were known, doubtless a very great number die from 

 their attacks. 



These Kalahari bush-people are the most persevering 

 and courageous hunters : once on the trail of game, 

 they never leave it till they kill ; and their skill in 

 stalking cannot be surpassed. Even the ostrich, the 

 wariest of all game, falls before their tiny poisoned 

 arrows. In fact, but for the Bushmen, the supply of 

 wild ostrich feathers would be very scant indeed. 



I had just succeeded in making these wanderers 

 comfortable for the time being, when the big Macalaca 

 lad came to me. His musket was in his hand, and his 



