.t32 Men, Mines, and Animals in South Africa. 



Arrived at sunrise at tlie AYegdraai (pronounced 

 Vechdri). This means in Dutch the parting of the 

 river from the road. Giles tells me last night's 

 trek was a very good performance, but of course 

 our oxen are real good 'uns, and are very fit, and 

 still look in splendid condition. There are several 

 waggons outspanned near us. Feathered game 

 was scarce to-da}'. Inspanned at 4 p.m. Soon 

 after starting Giles received a note from Dr. Saur 

 and Mr. Williams, miniuo- enoineer, Avho are ooino- 

 up to Mashonalaud for the Zambesi Exploring 

 Company. They asked for the " loan " of some 

 bread and a few necessaries of life. It appears 

 that they have been coming up the road quickly 

 in a Cape cart, and expected to catch up their 

 waggons about here. Unfortunately their waggons 

 had by accident taken a wrong road, and they 

 were stranded without any " skoff." Of course 

 Giles soon found them the necessaries required. 



Wednesdaif. June 2-itJi. — Inspanned at 1 a.m., 

 and at daybreak arri\'ed at Silika, twenty miles 

 from our last camp. The road was very rough. 

 There used to l)e a store here, but it has been 

 moved. There is a small detachment of the 

 Bechuanaland police. AVe have left the Crocodile 

 River well to the right. This is a very pi-ettily- 

 situatecl place. There is a large kopje at our back 

 and several others around. There is a small 

 stream of running water about half a mile distant. 

 The outspan place is very dirty. There are lions 

 about here, and a Kaffir shot one the other day 

 and sold the skin to a white man for 1 5$. There 



