142 EXPEDITION INTO 



raiig'e of blue mountains which we visited some weeks 

 afterwards ; the whole of the extensive plain being- sprinkled 

 with hug'e mokaala trees^ mat rushes_, and thistles. Larg-e 

 herds of elands were g-razing- among-st these^ the host of 

 savag'es by which we were attended quickly clearing- away 

 the carcases of those we slew^ and then quarrelling- for 

 the entrails. I hope my reader has understood that these 

 barbarians g'enerally devour the meat raw^ althoug'h when 

 at leisure they do not object to its being* cooked. They 

 usually seize a piece of the flesh by the teeth, cutting* a 

 larg-e mouthful of it with the assagai close to the lips, before 

 masticating* it, which they do with a loud sputter and noise. 

 The meal being' finished, they never failed to wipe their 

 hands on their bodies, and then being* generally gorged, 

 they lay themselves down to repose — previously relaxing 

 their leathern girdles, which are so contrived as to be readily 

 expanded according to their girth. 



How truly has it been remarked by Captain Owen, that 

 the state of those countries which have had little or no inter- 

 course with civilized nations, is a direct refutation of the 

 theories of poets and philosophers, who would represent 

 the ignorance of the savage as virtuous simplicity — his 

 miserable poverty as frugality and temperance — and his 

 stupid indolence as laudable contempt for wealth ', widely 

 differinof indeed were the facts which came under our 

 observation j and doubtless it will ever be found, that un- 

 cultivated man is a compound of treachery, cunning, de- 

 bauchery, gluttony, and idleness. 



As the sun was setting, our friend the rhinoceros impru- 

 dently appeared upon the bank of the river within pistol 

 shot. Five balls were immediately lodged in his body, 

 with which he retreated, and was picked up the following 



mornmg-. 



Leaving the Tolaan Biver, we passed between two ranges 



