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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 
K2 
