244 EXPEDITION INTO 



with tlieir iinp-like squaws^ cfirousin^ over a carcase. I 

 slunk silently back to my den, fully impressed with the 

 necessity of remaining* perfectly quiet^ but scarcely hoping" 

 that my horse would be so fortunate as to escape the 

 observation of these lynx-e3^ed vag-abonds. 



The uneasy snorting- of my unfortunate steed^ and his 

 constant efforts to g"et loose^ soon apprized me of the pre- 

 sence of lions at no g'reat distance to windward^ but the fear 

 of attracting" my two-leg-g-ed enemies to the spot prevented 

 my kindling" a fire for his protection^ or even for dressing* a 

 lioorliaan* with which I had taken care to provide myself^ 

 from among" the g-reat number of those eleg-ant fowls that 

 were constantly popping- their black top-knots out of the 

 grass^ and rising- with hoarse raven-like croaks before my 

 horse's feet. Dying" of hung"er, and my ^^ girdle of famine"!^ 

 tig-htened to the last hole^ I felt strang-ely tempted to devour 

 my Christmas repast uncooked. About midnig"ht^ however^ 

 having" prepared a deep oven, I ventured to lig"ht a fire, and 

 the fowl being" duly baked and disposed of, I presently be- 

 took mj'self to sleep. 



The following" morning" set in with tremendous rain. 

 Drenched, cold, and cramped, I arose from my aquatic bed, 

 and at once perceived that all hope of finding- the trail of our 

 A\'ag-g"ons was at an end. The soil consisting- chiefly of a red 

 loamy earth, from which the faintly marked tracks were 

 easily obliterated, I resolved to follow the course of the river 

 several miles farther to the westward ; and then, should I 

 fail in finding- the wag"g"ons, to cross the country in a direct 

 line to the conical hill, which was still a conspicuous land- 

 mark — thus certainl}', intersecting- the road, if, indeed, any 

 traces of it remained, of which I beg-an to be doubtful. To 



* Florican. 

 t The leathern strap worn round the waist is called by the savnges a lamhcle 

 strap, or hunger-girdle. 



