SOUTHEEN AFRICA. 189 



I shall not tax the patience of those of my readers, who 

 may not be votaries of the chase, by a repetition of hunting* 

 scenes. We returned to our camp on the 14thj laden with 

 spoils, having* also fully established the possibility of dis- 

 pensing", even to cooking* apparatus, with every article of 

 bag"g*ag*e. Carrying* nothing* but the raiment on our backs, 

 the saddle served for a pillow, and the horse-rug* for a 

 blanket. Our tent was the starry canopy of heaven ; we 

 drank of the waters of the crystal stream, and our viands 

 were the produce of our trusty rifles. It is said that the 

 epicures of Kome esteemed the trunk of an elephant an 

 extraordinary luxury j and descending* to more modern times, 

 we find our brother traveller, Le Vaillant, feasting* upon the 

 foot with extraordinary relish. To the attention of the city 

 alderman, however, I must be allowed to recommend the 

 slice round the eye, which appears to have been hitherto 

 overlooked by hon vivans. Upon this dainty morsel, roasted 

 upon a stick before a blazing* fire, or sing*ed among* the 

 embers, so as to come under the Hottentot denomination of 

 carbonaadfje, or devilled-g*rill, we frequently feasted * and I 

 can aver, without the smallest fear of contradiction, that the 

 dish rather resembled the frag*ment of a shoe, picked up 

 after a conflag*ration, than meat which could boast of having* 

 been subjected to a culinary process. 



Nothing momentous had transpired during* our absence, 

 Coeur de Lion, our deputy, having proved himself a bold 

 and vig-ilant commander. The merciless inroads of the 

 lions, and the trouble that their attacks involved^ had at 

 leng-th taught our followers the necessity of keeping up 

 constant watch-fires ; and whenever the night was fine — 

 which, " by the king's orders," was sometimes the case — 



an easterly direction, with a river to cross, but could not find any thin"- 

 like a fording place. They met with some yellow people on horses, who 

 compelled them to return." 



