MY THREE SEA-COWS. 43 



I fancy we must have covered forty-five miles, for we 

 were going from sunrise to sunset, only stopping to rest 

 for a quarter of an hour during the heat of the day. We 

 saw nothing but pallahs and zebras, for the country was 

 rather dry, and most of the game had moved away 

 nearer to the Libombo range of hills. The journey was 

 a very tiring one, for we followed a native path only 

 about a foot in width, and at every slight incline the 

 rain-water had channelled the path until its cross section 

 was shaped like the segment of a circle, so that in 

 walking one's ankles were bent inwards and the heels 

 outwards. Any one who had travelled along a native 

 path will have experienced this inconvenience. 



In the evening we arrived at some kraals and camped 

 for the night. I doubt whether any European had ever 

 before camped at these kraals. Our fires were sur- 

 rounded by inquisitive groups of natives, who examined 

 guns, blankets and all our impedimenta, giving vent all 

 the time to expressions of astonishment at the wisdom 

 of the white men who could do all things. The girls 

 were never tired of examining my watch, which I firmly 

 believe they either thought to be a creature endued with 

 life, or that motion had been imparted to it by exercise 

 of magical powers with which they freely credited us. 



The head man of the village came and sat down in 

 silence for some time, and then, having exchanged 

 salutations, broke out into a string of compliments : 

 " The sun shines very brightly to day. How honoured 

 is my village ! Wow, but I have seen wonderful sights 

 methinks I have seen Umswaz ! " Now Umswaz was 

 their great chief from whom the nation derived their 

 designation of Amaswasi or people of Umswaz. 



I questioned the old gentleman concerning the pros- 



