126 BIG GAME SHOOTING 



and I was chaffed. The Lake was still 200 miles distant. 

 These choois are remarkable features in South African lands. 

 This one was fifteen miles long by, say, about four broad ; one 

 to the immediate north was much larger. The wild animals 

 visit them as ' licks,' and the Kafirs get their salt from them. 



In 1850 I hoped to bring a boat, but found it impos- 

 sible to carry it through the drought and heat, and launch 

 it in serviceable condition on the inland waters. The Doctor 

 and I had arranged to start together, but he had already left 

 Kolobeng a month when I arrived, Mrs. Livingstone with him. 

 There was no chance of overtaking him this time, so I decided 

 upon getting on to the Zouga, the river running out of Lake 

 'Ngami, and having a quiet shoot by myself. This was our 

 second journey across the Bakalahari, and knowing the waters, 

 we made our arrangements accordingly, crossed without much 

 trouble, and reached our destination. 



Let me here record my gratitude for the nearly absolute 

 perfection of the copper caps I used- -Joyce's. I might very 

 ungratefully have forgotten my debt but for a rather narrow 

 escape on this journey from the only miss-fire I ever had in 

 thousands of shots. In mid-desert, attracted perhaps by the 

 water we had opened, a fine bull elephant came close to the 

 waggons. I rode to meet him, and fired, but failed to do 

 any serious damage, though he pulled up. I reloaded and 

 manoeuvred for his shoulder ; but before I could get a shot 

 he charged, and the cap of the right barrel snicked fortu- 

 nately the left stopped him with the front shot, and he fell 

 dead. I dismounted and then looked on the ground. I was 

 amongst a nest of pitfalls how the horse and the elephant 

 had avoided them I don't know. On the Zouga the game 

 was abundant, and the shooting, as it nearly always was, 

 peerless. 



Eight or ten days from Lake Kamadou the camp had been 

 made, 150 yards from the river, just outside the thick fringe 

 of trees, and all was quiet for the night ; even the dogs were 

 sleeping, I believe, for once, for I had not been roused since 



