CHAPTER IV 



LATER VISITS TO SOUTH AFRICA 



BY W. COTTON OSWELL 



VARDON went home to England, I think, and I returned to 

 India to finish my time before taking furlough in 1847. Early 

 in 1849 hearing that Livingstone intended making an attempt 

 to reach Lake 'Ngami, Murray and I again left England to 

 join him. The Doctor had quitted his old missionary station, 

 and was now with Sechele at Kolobeng. As we neared 

 this place, whilst we were lying at a small spring called Le 

 Mawe, or the needles, from some pointed rocks which over- 

 hang it, the Kafirs told me there was a shorter way to 

 Kolobeng through the hills, but they doubted if it would do 

 for the waggons ; so I volunteered one afternoon to examine 

 it, and report for the onward move of the next day. I started 

 at 2 P.M. on a good old horse, and had followed a winding 

 track through the stony hills around us for an hour or more, 

 and, as it seemed likely to answer, was thinking of returning 

 to camp. We were at a slow walk when a low grumbling 

 growl woke up man and beast, and on looking back I saw a 

 lion within fifteen yards, coming up at his wicked slouching 

 trot. He was too near to give me a chance of dismounting, 

 and I spurred into a gallop ; but he gained on me, and, in 

 the hope of checking him, I fired a shot Parthianwise from 

 the saddle. The bough of a tree swept off my hat, and, as 

 it fell, the lion made a spring at it, giving me a moment's 

 law. Fifty or sixty yards ahead there was a small, rocky* 

 but otherwise open space, and to this I pressed at best 



