IN THE LAND OF THE BORA. 367 



cultivated in places, and flecked with huts here 

 and there. Then comes the main valley, and 

 beyond hill above hill, culminating in bare for- 

 bidding-looking peaks. Bare as they look, there 

 is pasture enough up there, and it is to them 

 that the European antelope withdraws during the 

 summer heats. A lovely land, yet unlikely to 

 become a tourist resort for many a day, con- 

 sidering that not even a good bridle road yet 

 traverses it. 



But the winter sun is declining towards the 

 west ; we must be going. u No, Dinah ; sufficient 

 for the day is the buck thereof. You shall not 

 disturb the other 



' Native burghers of this desert city 



* * * * * 



In their assign'd and native dwelling-place ' 



to-day. Come to the leash." 



So we go quietly homewards. The woods seem 

 more silent now ; only the curious cry of the great 

 black woodpecker breaks the stillness. These neg- 

 lected woods are a very paradise for all the varieties 

 of this bird. See, there is a lesser spotted one at 

 work. His red head hammers away, and as he 

 turns the branch he shows the same brilliant 

 scarlet underneath. He has not noticed me yet, 

 but as I step forward he does so, looks down, and 

 calmly continues his work. His bigger brother 

 would have alarmed the whole parish. As I pass 



