322 THE GREAT THIRST LAND. 



the place of old ones, and each ox furnished with a fresh 

 reim. The cattle looked well when they were brought 

 down ; once more they were mobbed, and soon after in 

 the yoke. " Fowl, why don't you start ? " I called out. 

 " The guide not come yet, Bass," he answered. And in 

 a moment after we were joined by a sturdy, tall Bechuana. 

 The whip cracked, the well-known shout was given, and 

 the wheels once more commenced to rumble on. 



Many shakes of the hand, many kindly parting 

 words, and once more alone, I am riding behind my 

 wagon, and not with the lightest heart, for I have 

 bidden adieu to kind friends, been the means of sepa- 

 rating Euby from her child, and enter a terra incognita. 



For five miles we have to take the track pursued 

 when coming into Bamanwatto, then it turns more to 

 the east, and the road follows the edge of the line 

 of hills. The scenery is very pretty ; for the range 

 is penetrated by numerous kloofs and glens, the sides of 

 which are covered with trees, the camile-dorn being the 

 most numerously represented. 



The path, however, is very rough and stony, so much 

 so that no other vehicle except a Cape wagon could 

 possibly stand it. At seven miles from Soshong the road 

 commences to turn more northerly, and soon after due 

 north. As there is no water for thirty miles, we have . 

 to make as much way as we can before outspanning, to 

 enable the cattle to drink at noon on the morrow. 



Being resolved to maintain from the commencement 

 the discipline and routine intended to be pursued during 

 the coming journey, I was kepb up all night trying to 

 lick matters into shape. 



Black people will always defer doing a thing to the 

 last moment, and they evinced that such was now their 



