292 ADVENTURES IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



rocks and gleiM on every side, until my suite exceeded 

 full two hundred men. 



We held a northerly course, and on the second day 

 we reached Letloohee, a strong perpetual fountain, sit- 

 uated in an abrupt and rocky ravine. This ravine lay 

 in a range of low rocky hills, which were bounded on 

 the north and west by a wide and gently-sloping basin 

 or hollow, diversified with extensive groves and open 

 glades. This hollow extended to a breadth of from six 

 to eight miles, and was much frequented by elands and 

 giraffes, and beyond it stretched the boundless extent 

 of the sandy Kalahari desert. Here I daily enjoyed 

 excellent sport with these two varieties of game ; but, 

 though elephants occasionally visited the water, and 

 we followed on their tracks to an amazing distance, we 

 always failed to obtain a view of them. 



On the forenoon of the 23d a native came and in- 

 htmedafne that he had discovered a white rhinoceros 

 Ijring asleep in thick cover to the south. I accordingly 

 accompanied him to the spot, and commenced stalking 

 in upon the vast muchocho. He was lying asleep be- 

 neath a shady tree, and his appearance reminded me 

 of an enormous hog, which in shape he slightly resem- 

 bles. He kept constantly flapping his ears, which they 

 invariably do when sleeping. Before I could reach the 

 proper distance to fire, several " rhinoceros birds," by 

 which he was attended, warned him of his impending 

 danger by sticking their bills into his ear, and uttering 

 their harsh, grating cry. Thus aroused, he suddenly 

 sprang to his feet and crashed away through ttie jun- 

 gle at a rapid trot, and I saw no more of him.* 



• These rhinooeroB birds are constant attendants upon the hippopota- 

 mus and the four varieties of rhinoceros, their object being to feed upon 

 the ticks and other parasitio insects that swarm upon these animals. 

 They are of a grayish color, and are nearly as large as a common thrush s 



