454 THE GREAT THIRST LAND. 



me a line from the Cape or Grahamstown. If you are, I am sorry, 

 and ask yon to forgive my rashness as a stranger writing to you on 



these matters. Good-bye. 



"Yours faithfully, 



" FRANCIS BALFOUR. 

 " Many thanks for your winnings ! " 



The birds alluded to were eight new species of bee- 

 eater and honey-birds collected by myself, and none of 

 which had ever been classified by any naturalist. The 

 last passage, " Many thanks for your winnings," referred 

 to my giving to the local charity some pounds I won 

 at whist. For although an inveterate bad gamester, 

 and without the slightest love for gambling, I almost 

 invariably win when induced to become a member of 

 a card- party. 



Two other documents I will also append. They 

 give the reader, and more especially the future traveller, 

 some idea of the kind of certificate he must be armed 

 with to recover the price of an ox or horse guaranteed 

 by the vendor against lung or horse sickness. 



" BAMANGWATO, 



" 8^ May, 1876. 



" This is to certify that a bay horse, with black points, died on 

 Crocodile River, on the 5th March, of horse-sickness, Spencer 

 Drake and Fred. Drake having been present at the time. Said horse 

 the property of Captain Gillmore. 



" (Signed) GEO. GORDON." 



" BAMANGWATO, 



"Sth May, 1876. 



" This is to certify that a dark brown ox died of lung-sickness, on 

 the 7th March, at Crocodile River. Said ox the property of Captain 

 Gillmore, and purchased in Zeerust of Oswald Bagger. 



"(Signed) GEO. GORDON." 



