AFRICAN RIVERS. 285 



seemed to be taking the line which his arrow had travelled. 

 As he did so, I saw a rock rabbit (the hyraoe) hanging behind 

 him, and then knew that he was after these animals, and 

 probably in shooting at one had sent his arrow into the 

 tree near me. 



I did not move, as my shelter was so good that even 

 a Bushman's eye would with difficulty see me. He looked 

 about him, and seeing his arrow in the tree, he picked up 

 some stones, threw two or three at it and brought it down ; 

 he then walked quietly away over the ridge. 



I slipped down the kloof and made the best of my way 

 home, to give my host a caution about his cattle and my 

 horses ; as these determined robbers were most dangerous 

 neighbours. 



We were not however disturbed. At about nine o'clock 

 in the evening we could see a fire shining from a neigh- 

 bouring mountain, and we supposed that the Bushmen were 

 having a feast of grilled hyrax for their supper. It was 

 proposed that we should go out and attack the party, but 

 there being no seconder to the proposition, it fell to the 

 ground. My horses after four or five days began to look 

 rather low in flesh ; so I bid my host farewell and returned 

 to Pietermaritzburg. On nearing the Umganie drift, 

 I found the river swollen into a complete torrent, 

 occasioned by some heavy showers and storms that had 

 fallen up the country. The rivers of Africa are never to 

 be trusted, for a traveller may pass with dry feet over the 

 bed of a river in the morning, and on returning in the 

 evening find a roaring torrent across his path. 



Feeling indisposed for a swim, I accepted the offer of a 



