XX 



BONDONI 



WE followed many depressions, in which might 

 be lions, until about three o'clock in the 

 afternoon. Then we climbed the gently rising long 

 slope that culminated, far above the plains, in the 

 peak of a hill called Bondoni. From a distance 

 it was steep and well defined; but, like most of these 

 larger kopjes, its actual ascent, up to the last few 

 ihundred feet, was so gradual that we hardly knew 

 [we were climbing. At the summit we found our 

 ten and the bullock cart. There also stood an 

 oblong blockhouse of stone, the walls two feet thick 

 and ten feet high. It was entered only by a blind 

 angle passage; and was strong enough apparently 

 to resist small artillery. This structure was simply 

 ;an ostrich corral! and bitter experience had shown 

 the massive construction absolutely necessary as 

 adequate protection, in this exposed and solitary 

 spot, against the lions. 



We had some tea and bread and butter, and then 

 Cliiford Hill and I set out afoot after meat. Only 



i6i 



