A GLIMPSE INTO FAIRY-LAND. 



253 



his 



statement I took the natives' word for, as I have no 

 taste for handling, even touching, such hideous-look- 

 ing creatures. As to the cause of these animals' 

 migration I am quite in the dark, nor could I ever 

 find anyone that could give me information on the 

 subject; however, it is the more remarkable when 

 we consider how very low a position they occupy in 

 the scale of animation. 



Such are the numbers of natives on this trail, all on 

 their way to the Diamond fields, that the game encoun- 

 tered appears restless and suspicious, therefore difficult 

 of approach, so I have resolved not to hunt till after 

 the Mocloutsi river is passed, which now bears from 

 our position about twenty miles north by east. The 

 country hourly improves in appearance, and the road, 

 although not all that could be desired, is still far 

 from bad for an African veldt. 



It was within an hour of sunset when we reached 

 the place where I intended branching off from the 

 Tati trail. In front was a long mass of reddish 

 sandstone cliffs strongly pregnated with mica, that 

 reflected the departing sun's rays with a very wonder- 

 ful and beautiful effect. I have seen the cliffs iX the 

 back of Pietermaritzburg and facing the town-hill 

 look very brilliant at this hour of the day ; in fact, so 

 much so that I and a companion could not tear 

 ourselves away from the hotel windows, so attractive 

 and marvellous was the effect, but it was insignificant 

 in comparison with the rocks about the Mocloutsi. 



A dense native population appears to reside in this 

 locality, but they seemed very distrustful of strangers, 

 so avoided all overtures made them of friendship. 

 Their kraals I did not see, although doubtless they 

 were close at hand, for daylight was now rapidly 

 giving place to darkness, yet still the aborigines 

 retained their places upon the cliffs. I should 

 imagine that these timorous folks belong to the great 

 Makalaka race, and that their homes, being situated 



