124 Men, Mines, and Animals in South Africa. 



manclino- officer, pitched on the north bank of 

 the river, on a space which had been cleared for 

 a cricket ground. All around is the Inish veldt, 

 where at some distance from the camp the animals 

 find orood o-razinsr. Here, at an altitude of onlv 

 1850 feet, the weather is found to be much warmer 

 in the daytime than in the high uplands of the 

 Transvaal, nor is there any frost at night. At 

 this time of the year the situation is fairly healthy, 

 and there is no fever among the troops. During 

 the rainy season the troops suffered considerabh' 

 from fever and dysentery, the horse sickness 

 ravaged the mounts, some 80 per cent, of horses 

 having been lost. It is said that the Chartered 

 Company will give up this station, "which is to be 

 taken over by the Bechuanaland Border Police. 



Before our departure the military force enter- 

 tained the expedition at a camjD fire concert. A 

 colossal and Plutonic bonfire threw a wild and 

 glaring light upon the surrounding scenery and 

 upon the groups of men and natives in many- 

 coloured and motley attire. The attendance 

 must have numbered over a hundred. Many ex- 

 cellent songs were sung, one recitation bearing 

 on Sir Charles Warren's Bechuanaland exploits 

 achieved a great success. A single verse will in- 

 dicate the spirit of the poem and the reputation of 

 the officer : — 



So you see there was no iigliting, on tliat glorious campaign, 

 For not a man was wounded, not a warrior was slain ; 

 And the doctors had an easy time, as doctors always will, 

 Campaigning with a General who goes fighting with a quill. 



