A Slough of Despond. 221 



as no one in London ever dreamed of. A lucky 

 hunter in Africa need never wait for his dinner, 

 and cannot compkin of it. Early on the follow- 

 ing morning we trekked toAvards " Beale's Camp," 

 a locality to which we had been directed, and where 

 we were informed there was much game. This 

 spot lies on the Umfuli River, about eighteen 

 miles south of the Hunyani, between that point of 

 the Umfuli which is traxoi-sed by the main road to 

 Fort Victoria and that point which is traversed by 

 the road to Hartley Hill. Shortly after starting 

 we got badly stuck in swampy ground. Spades 

 were used fi-eely to extricate the wheels buried 

 over their axles, two horses were inspanned, but 

 to no purpose. There Avas nothing for it but to 

 " off load," a most tedious and tiring business. 

 Four thousand pounds weight of load was taken 

 off the waggon. We were only eight in number 

 all told, and a lot of time was consumed. Even 

 then, with the waggon thus lightened, it was all 

 the mules and horses could do to drag it out of and 

 across the swamp to firmer ground. Now all the 

 mass of things " off loaded " have to be carried by 

 us some three or four hundred yards and replaced 

 on the wao'p;on. A real bad business this. It was 

 my first experience of a genuine African stickfast. 

 At one moment it seemed as if we might have to 

 remain in this swamp for days, until a team of 

 oxen could be procured, and as if our hunting trip 

 would be l^rought to a premature and undignified 

 end. After this we proceeded without mishap 

 along a waggon spoor for about ten miles to a 



