60 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 



discovery that the killed lioness was not wounded 

 with the Bushman's arrow, renewed their search ; 

 and in the course of the day, on their return to 

 their kraals, passed my encampment bearing a 

 newly taken hide, satisfactory evidence of the rapid 

 and fearful certainty of the virus with which they 

 anoint the points of their diminutive weapons. 



There are several poisons in use among the 

 aboriginal tribes of Southern Africa, but that ex- 

 tracted from a caterpillar, and designated by the 

 natives " mangue," is the most fatal. The pain 

 which all the victims suffer who have been inoculated 

 with it must be fearful indeed ; but it is not long 

 endured, for two or three hours generally put an 

 end to the stricken animal's existence. Of course, 

 this time is more or less protracted from the size of 

 the wound, the locality in which it is situated, and 

 the quantity of the venom injected ; for instance, on 

 one of the tributaries of the Zambesi, a lioness that 

 had been wounded at sundown did not expire till 

 the following daybreak, during all which time the 

 cries of anguish that she kept repeating told how 

 the poor creature suffered. On examination, this 

 victim .of the poisoned arrow only had a slight 

 puncture through the skin close to the flank, but 

 the firmness of the hide had prevented the missile 

 from falling from the wound. 



As the habits of semi-barbarous people always 

 possess great interest for me, I trust they do so 



