212 EXPEDITION INTO 



chief. The unhappy Piet was broug-ht in shortly after- 

 wards^ Avhen our nervous anxiety respecting- him was not a 

 httle reheved by an inspection of the limb^ which^ althoug'h 

 dreadfu% burnt and lacerated^ was providentially unbroken. 

 Our skill in surg-ery being" exercised with g'ood effect^ the 

 wound healed rapidly j and I, feeling- oblig-ed to the patient 

 for the little assistance he had occasionally afforded me in 

 the field, ag'ain resigned my cot to him during- the day j a 

 piece of kindness which, like the rest of his unthankful tribe^ 

 he mistook for weakness, repaying- me in the end by the 

 g-rossest ing-ratitude. 



Every feature of this part of the country was beautiful 

 beyond description. Grassy meads, spang*led with brilliant 

 flowers, extended between rich masses of g-rove and forest. 

 Stately trees were festooned with clambering- vines^ or scent- 

 ed creepers. Here the gorg-eous aloe reared its coral tufts 

 above the olive brake — and there the meadows were flushed 

 with the crimson or lilac hues of the poppy and amaryllis. 

 Amongst a variety of animals^ a herd of elephants was 

 visible from the waggons 3 and^ the next day, from the top 

 of a commanding eminence, we again saw the face of the 

 highly picturesque landscape covered with these stately 

 beasts, browsing in indolent security, like the cattle upon a 

 thousand hills^ and bathing their huge forms in the pellucid 

 stream. Upon being attacked^ one hundred at least^ 



" Trampling their path through wood and brake, 

 And canes which, crackling, fell before their way," 



rushed franticly down a ravine^ with upraised ears, and 

 tossing trunks, screaming Avildl}^, and levelling everything- 

 before them. A shot, fired from the bank, while it sealed 

 the fate of the leader, turned the rest back again, and this 

 persecution was repeated until they became fairly stupified. 

 On one occasion they attempted to retrieve the day b}^ a 



