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CHAPTER IV 
LATER VISITS TO SOUTH AFRICA 
By W. CoTTron OswELL 
Varpon 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 Sechélé at Kolobeng. As we neared 
this place, whilst we were lying at a small spring called Le 
Mawé, 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 
