158 PROCEED ON THEIR JOURNEY, 



night we supped with the resident missionary and Mosie- 

 lely, king of the Bakatlas, a Bechuana tribe of but trifling 

 importance. The Bakatlas we saw had become about 

 half civilized as regarded their costume, and were far 

 beyond the other natives in intelligence. The next morn- 

 ing, we obtained a supply of some corn, and some pump- 

 kins and watermelons, and made the Bakatla chief some 

 presents of beads, snuff, and other articles valued by these 

 people ; obtained some information in regard to the coun- 

 try northward of the vale, and, in spite of all the hos- 

 pitable entreatiesof the kind missionary, proceeded on our 

 journey. The same night we encamped about ten miles 

 beyond the vale, after a day of hard travel and unsuccess- 

 ful chase. 



The next day we resumed our march. The country 

 was beautifully diversified. Wooded hills and mountains 

 stretched away on every side. Gorgeously-colored groves 

 lined the route. Herds of antelopes of many beautiful 

 varieties, zebras, quaggas, gnoos, ostriches, and occasional 

 rhinoceroses and numerous animals of which we had no 

 knowledge or description, appeared to tempt our rifles ; 

 but we only succeeded in slaughtering the antelopes which 

 had furnished us with so much delicious food since wo 

 had been hunting in South Africa. For several days we 

 travelled on, without the occurrence of any incident of a 

 novel or striking character. At length we reached 



