228 EXPEDITION INTO 



was at leiig'th extricated at the expense of a trek-touw, to 

 repair which a tax Avas levied on the hides of two elands 

 that were grazing' in the neig'hbourhood^ and we then drew 

 up in a strong' position^ before an old stone enclosure^ which 

 served as a cattle pound^ the rear being* fortified by an isolated 

 tumulus. Andries having- confidently predicted some un- 

 pleasant occurrence^ Coeur de Lion perched himself upon 

 the summit of this eminence^ and maintained another weary 

 vigil throughout the nig-ht, the early half of which was 

 illumined by a brilliant moon. 



We commenced another forced inarch before day-lig-ht on 

 the lOthj still taking the course of the Chonapas for our 

 guide. Several long strings of wild buffaloes passed a-head 

 of us on their way up from the river^ and a lion^ with tail 

 erect, was observed in full career after a troop of scouring 

 gnoos. The capricious distribution of animal forms is no- 

 where more remarkable than in Africa^, and to solve the 

 mysterious causes by which it is influenced^ has long been 

 reckoned among the most puzzling problems in the great 

 scheme of the creation. As if by magic, the brindled gnoo 

 had suddenly given place during- the last three days, to the 

 common, or white-tailed species, and not another specimen 

 occurred during the remainder of our journey. Whilst 

 hunting the wilde-hccst* as the latter species is termed by the 

 Cape Colonists, the abstraction already recorded of my shoes 

 by his Amazooloo Majesty, had nearly been the cause of a 

 serious disaster. In order to avoid the disagreeable alterna- 

 tive of walking bare-footed, I had been compelled to adopt 

 a pair rudely manufactured of untanned hide j and the sole 

 becoming entangled in the stirrup, while, with both hands 

 encumbered, I was in the act of jumping off to administer 

 the co^ip-de-grace, I fell on my back ; and the wounded 

 animal bellowing and strugghng- at the same instant, my 



* Ant/lice^ Wild Ox. 



