MY FELLOW SCOUTS 103 



while protecting their children. Perhaps some- 

 thing may yet be done to eradicate from this far-off 

 and poor corner the accursed evil of the slave 

 trade. 



Two of our horses died at Maruta's of horse 

 sickness, and at the same time, as we afterwards 

 learnt, one of the two left at Sepango in Mafoota's 

 charge, died also. All the remainder, however, 

 both horses and mules, appeared salted, and we 

 still had sufficient mounts for the three of us 

 besides a spare mule, old " Jenny/' for the pack. 

 As we had expected, West and Johnson were 

 away when we reached the little vley which they 

 made their headquarters (if they could be said 

 to have such a thing as headquarters), but our 

 bushmen messengers soon found them. Africa is 

 a big country, but the wilder the country, as long 

 as there are native inhabitants, the easier it is to 

 get into touch with anyone's whereabouts. 



Within three days West and Johnson returned, 

 though they were thirty miles away at another pan 

 when the bushmen found them. While we were 

 waiting I picked up a Maquengo youth of very 

 pleasing countenance, named Boombo : Boombo 

 seems as common in Maquengo as " Jack " or 

 " Tom " in England. He was persuaded to 

 accompany us, but I did not recognise him the 

 next morning, and neither did Lewis. This nice- 

 looking Maquengo in the camp had quite a bright 

 yellowish-red colour, while Boombo of the previous 

 day was dark. 



