n8 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 



denote that tillers of the soil now resided in the 

 locality. 



At length I found some human footprints. 

 They were quite fresh, and unquestionably those of 

 hunters, for the reason that I found several bowers, 

 which had been formed to set guns in, for the pur- 

 pose of destroying animals that were injurious to 

 their flocks. Turning a corner sharply, however, 1 

 rode almost on the top of these people, who seemed 

 uncertain whether to bolt or make a stand of it. If 

 I had been a Boer, they doubtless would have done 

 the former ; but, discovering that I was not, they 

 plucked up courage and permitted me to interview 

 them. I found them very fine specimens of their 

 race Bakalihari and quite willing to be obliging 

 when the promise of a present was made them for 

 their services, so one took me in charge to show me 

 the nearest water, while the others returned to pilot 

 my people to it. On my route to the promised vley 

 I passed by the side of a native station. It was 

 composed of not more than a dozen huts, and was 

 surrounded by the most formidable thorn fence that 

 I had yet seen. This sight rather pleased me than 

 otherwise, for it told, in very expressive words, that 

 we had entered a country where the large carnivore 

 were not scarce, and consequently the game they 

 fed on was probably abundant. About this station 

 and within its environs were some of the finest; 

 mimosa trees I have noted in this part of Africa, the 1 



