438 THE GREAT THIRST LAND. 



home, so I ascended one sand-ridge and then another, 

 in the expectation of seeing the illumination of the sky 

 caused by the wagon-fires, but look in what direction I 

 liked, such was not to be perceived. At length I gave 

 the search up as a bad job, and sought for a dead or 

 fallen mimosa. After about an hour's futile exertion, I 

 discovered the latter, made a fire, and laid down with 

 the hope of sleeping; but in this I was disappointed, 

 for soon after trying to seek repose, I was stung by a 

 scorpion on the ankle, which the flames had doubtlessly 

 driven irate from its sanctuary in the fallen tree. This 

 was bad enough, but here my torture did not end, for I 

 was assailed by red ants in such numbers, that it was 

 impossible longer to remain lying on the ground. In 

 consequence I got up, piled more wood on the fire, and 

 went so far as to consider myself the most unfortunate 

 man on the face of the earth. However, no wild 

 animals came near me. In the distance I heard several 

 hyaenas wail, and numerous jackals laugh, but they 

 were a long way off, possibly holding carnival over the 

 body of my slaughtered ox. When day broke I picked 

 myself up, and with anything but feelings of regret left 

 my uncomfortable bivouac. When the sun rose I walked 

 towards it, and in a short time found my own and the 

 bushman's spoor of yesterday when in pursuit of the 

 wildebeest. Taking the back trail, soon after I observed 

 a line of white smoke perpendicularly ascending to 

 the clouds. As I was not aware that any of the 

 natives resided near here, I concluded that it must be 

 from the fires at my wagon. In this surmise I was 

 correct, so reached my belongings by eight o'clock, 

 when I found that Umganey and the driver had gone 

 in pursuit of me. However, they returned about 



