50 EXPEDITION INTO 



sembliiio- hay-stacks ; and under the impression that these 

 had been erected in so sing'ular a position by the natives as 

 a measure of security ag'ainst the lions, whose recent tracks 

 I distinguished in every direction, I ascended more than 

 one in the hope of at least finding* some vessel containing* 

 A\ater. Alas ! they proved to be the habitations of larg'e 

 communities of social gTosbeaks,* those wing'ed republicans 

 of A\hose architecture and magnificent edifices, I had, till 

 now, entertained a very inadequate conception. Faint and 

 bewildered, my prospects beg*an to brighten as the shadows 

 of evening- lengthened. Large troops of ostriches running* 

 in one direction, plainty indicated that I was approaching 

 water ; and immediately afterwards I struck into a path im- 

 pressed with the foot-marks of women and children — soon 

 arriving at a nearly dry river, which, running east and west, 

 I at once concluded to be that of which I was in search. 



Those only who have suffered as I did during this day 

 from prolonged thirst, can form a competent idea of the 

 dehght, and I may add, energy, afforded me by the first 

 draught of the putrid waters of the Meritsane. They equally 

 invigorated my exhausted steed, which I mounted imme- 

 diately and cantered up the bank of the river, in order, if 

 possible, to reach the waggons before dark. The banks are 

 jjrecipitous — the channel deep, broken, and rocky : clusters 

 of reeds and long grass indicating those spots which retain 

 the water during the hot months. It was with no small 

 difficulty, after crossing the river, that I forced my way 

 through the broad belt of tangled bushes which margined 

 the edge. The moonless night was fast closing around, and 

 my Aveary horse again began to droop. The lions, com- 

 mencing their nightly prowl, were roaring in all directions, 

 and no friendly fire or beacon presenting* itself to my view, 



* Loxia Socia. Delineated in the Portraits of Game and Wild Animals of 

 South Africa. 



