126 Men, Mines, and Animals in South Africa. 



CHAPTER IX. 



THROUGH BECHUANALAND. 



Cold nights in cam}) — The horse sickness — Visit from Kaffir 

 women to our Mariko Kiver camp — Outspan on the banks 

 of the Crocodile River — We cross the Mahalopsie River — 

 Dr. Saur and Mr. Williams — Camp at Silika — Arrival at 

 the Lotsani River — The luxury of a shave — The Suchi 

 River — Headquarters of the Bechuanaland Police at Mat- 

 laputta — The Macloutsie River — I lose myself near the 

 Semalali River while in quest of game — Catching up the 

 waggons. 



From the Journal kejjt by Surgeon Hugh Rayner. 



Ramatlabana, Stutdfty, May ^Ist. — We are 

 seventeen miles north of Mafekiug, out of British 

 territory, but in the British Protectorate. Nights 

 are very cokl. As soon as the sun goes down the 

 temperature changes, and after midnight the cold 

 is intense and continues till sunrise, when it 

 gradually becomes warmei'. There is, however, 

 always a cool breeze during the day, so that the 

 heat of the sun is considerably tempered. If by 

 chance the sun becomes obscured by clouds a 

 feeling of cold is at once experienced. As a 

 specimen of the night cold, I slept last night in a 

 camp bed with a cork mattress and three l^lankets. 

 I was in a rough flannel sleeping bag and 

 covered with two camel's hair blankets and a 

 sheepskin kaross. Yet my feet never became 

 Av^arm, and were quite cold on waking this morn- 



