LATER VISITS TO SOUTH AFRICA 131 



These maminas, or sucking holes, are common throughout 

 the desert, and wherever we found the reeds we found water ; 

 in two instances, indeed, by digging to a depth of nine feet 

 we were enabled to supply all our horses and oxen, for though 

 the water never stood more than eight or ten inches, yet 

 the oftener the well was emptied the quicker it filled again, 

 obstructions to its free flow being removed by the continuous 

 trickling. 



Maneless lions 



I have mentioned how much the elephants of the Zouga 

 differ from those of the Limpopo, and the more southern and 

 eastern districts ; the lions too are, I suppose, influenced by 

 the drier climate and surroundings, for very few of the males 

 grow manes. I thought at first this might depend on their 

 age, as the lion of the south is only furnished in this particular 

 in full lionhood ; but one day whilst lying on the Zouga, a 

 few days' march from Lake 'Ngami, a horse of mine fell into 

 a pitfall, and in broad daylight three lions invited themselves 



