CHAPTER XXIX. 



ADVENTURE WITH A LEOPARD. 



Washing, Mending, &c. An Expected Row Outspanned in a Nasty Place The 

 Attendants crowd to my Fire Ordered to Light their own Fires Rebellious 

 Spirits The Scoundrels leave me en masse A Tedious Night A Visit to 

 my Cattle Splendid Sunrises Massaras Tracking In Presence of Game 

 Zebra wounded A Charge Cruel Work Out for a Run A Leopard Hit 

 Attacked by the Dogs Macguire comes to Grief The Beast bites the Dust 

 Buffaloes and Leopards Varieties of the African Leopard Arguments in 

 Support of my Theory Meruley Tree A Black Mamba. 



HERE we rested for several days. I went in for washing, 

 mending, laying out fresh ammunition, cleaning guns, 

 &c. &c. for in two days' journey we would be in the 

 veritable game country, until when I determined to 

 rest. 



To put all in good temper I bought several goats 

 for a cup of gunpowder each, and one was slaughtered 

 daily. This was not absolutely necessary, for there was 

 plenty of game about, but I had an unaccountable 

 longing for the meat of tame animals. 



During this holiday a most obvious improvement in 

 the appearance of the oxen and mare took place a good 

 indication that they still had some work in them. 

 When we renewed the journey, the first three trecks were 

 accomplished comfortably, the fourth not so, for I have 

 had a most disagreeable row with my attendants ; the 

 undoubted cause of the difficulty is to be attributed 

 to the guide, driver, and foreloper. The Massaras were 

 simply tools in their hands. 



