The Journal of a Sporting Nomad 



much so, in fact, that he went to sleep on the 

 box, leaving the oxen in the custody of a small 



boy. 



The heat, the jolting, and the dust made this 

 part of the journey a perfect nightmare. There 

 were four passengers beside myself all men. 



After about three or four hours, the driver, 

 who was now awake, proceeded to try and walk 

 beside his team, and presently lagged some 

 distance behind. Coming upon a deep spruit 

 full of water, which came well over the box of 

 the wheels, we hurried through it, hoping that 

 our drunken henchman would get sobered if he 

 had to wade it. We did not have the chance 

 that day of seeing the effect of aqua pura on this 

 individual, for he did not turn up again until 

 next morning, when we started afresh from 

 Lloyd's Store a sort of wayside hotel. We 

 slept in native huts, which were, however, built 

 for the occupation of white people, and furnished 

 after a fashion that was not altogether uncom- 

 fortable. After we had had some supper in the 

 main building, we four passengers turned in for 

 the night, only to be kept awake by singing and 

 laughing in another hut some few paces away ; 

 evidently the occupants were making a night of 

 it. Some one upset a candle in this hut, which 

 set on fire the flimsy reed and wattle. I heard 

 the shout of " Fire ! " and rushed out to see two 

 men tumble out of the now fiercely burning 



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