CHAPTER II. 



ONE OF CIGAR'S ADVENTURES HUNTEP BY BABOONS. 



" To the west of Pitsani, on the banks of the Marit- 

 sani river, now a part of Macobey's country, I 

 resided for a time. Game was then very plentiful 

 all over that part of the land ; but, unless you could 

 procure ammunition at the Rev. Mr. Moffat's, at 

 Kuruman, in this abundance you might have to 

 starve, as a black man could not obtain a bag of 

 powder or a bar of lead any nearer than the distant 

 colonial settlements, for a Boer would not then, as 

 now, part with a charge of the former or an ounce 

 of the latter to save a coloured man's life. The 

 veteran missionary well knew its value, too, but he 

 had a great love for a good leopard's skin, so I 

 determined to procure one to purchase powder with. 

 " Rocky kloofs and koppies are the favourite 

 haunt of the leopard, and you will remember that 

 for miles along the banks of the Maritsani such 

 abound. On a day that I was out looking for bok, 

 I came across the spoor of one of these spotted fiend 

 cats ; for, believe me, they are far more dangerous 



