SOUTHERN AFRICA. 2GQ 



of the hillj a part}' was immediately detached to take pos^ 

 session of them^ while we gianced over the field of slaughter^ 

 to ascertain the extent of our loss. Side by side at our feet, 

 and swollen almost to bursting-, from the effects of a subtile 

 poison, were Holland and Ohfant, the two sturdy wheelers 

 of our choice Naude sjmu* which had never failed to extricate 

 us from every difficulty. Near them, and weltering- in a 

 pool of blood, la};' Lanceman and Eng-land, the steadiest and 

 staunchest of our leaders. Passing* onwards, our attention 

 Avas next attracted to a headless trunk, and at no great 

 distance from it — the white eyes g-laring- upon us as if still 

 ali\-e — was the hornless cranium of 31utlee. Every eye 

 turned upon the caitiff Andries, and peals of ill-timed merri- 

 ment burst from every Hottentot mouth. The arm of retri- 

 bution had for once descended on a rig'ht A\'orthy victim. 

 Maddened with rag-e at the heart-rending* prospect before 

 us, ag*ain and ag*ain did we search every chink and cranny, 

 and unweariedly did we cast about for the trail of the ma- 

 rauders. " Grim satyr- faced baboons" railed hoarsely at us 

 from their rocky clefts, and, to whichever side we turned, 

 the slope of the hill was besprinkled Avith mouldering* human 

 bones ', but, after the closest scrutiny, no object could be 

 discovered upon which to wreak our veng*eance. A rhee- 

 buck, that our early approach had disturbed, having* bounded 

 throug*h the encampment, and given the alarm, the " dwellers 

 with owls and bats," although doubtless spectators of all 

 that we were doing, had effectually concealed themsehes 

 from observation, and, after the strictest search, nine tracks 

 only could be discovered. Of these, six were females, and 

 one was that of our bewitching- acquaintance. Barely four 

 inches in length, but yet fully developed, there could be no 

 mistaking her footmark j and it now became evident that, 

 Avhilst she and her elfin colleao-ues had been aidino- and 



* Tea oxen usually compose a span or team. 



