268 Men, Mines, and Animals in South xAfrica. 



and a hartebeest, so that we were not deprived of 



fresh meat on account of the lion. 



An exjDedition in this country is ahnost entirely 



dependent for fresh meat on the buck which are 



killed. The natives will not part with their sheep 



and goats. While I was at Hartley Hill a trader 



came in from Buluroyo, with slaughter oxen, 



bouo-ht from Lobens-ula from the Chartered 



Company. I procured from him two good sheep 



and a goat. The fat mutton was found l^y all to 



be a real luxury. I also purchased from this man 



tT70 milch cows. These tiny creatures are with 



difhculty prevailed upon to yield about three 



bottles of milk a day between them, keeping tlie 



rest for their calves, from which the natives never 



separate them. However, even this scanty quantitv 



of fresh milk was another luxury which had not 



been enjoyed for weeks or months, and on which 



we set great store. AYhile at Hartley Hill the 



increasing heat of the sun indicated the close of 



the South African winter. Heavy masses of clouds 



gathering in the afternoon, a sultry and oppressive 



air, foretold the near commencement of the early 



rains and storms. Surgeon Rayner ascertained 



that at midday the thermometer in the shade 



marked eighty-five degrees. The nights remain 



cool and fresh, the mercurv ranoino- from fortv- 

 ' .,00 I 



five to fifty degrees. Many signs and appearances, 

 however, continue to tell us that our return 

 journey must soon occupy our thoughts. A 

 troublesome prospect this return journey. Eight 

 thousand miles nearly have to be traversed before 



