A ROCK SERPENT SHOT. 149 



ques. I discovered a drift, but deep. I returned to 

 camp for fresh horses, and rode forth with two after- 

 riders, and a pack-horse carrying bedding, as I had re- 

 solved to hunt for serolomootlooques over the river for a 

 couple of days. We got safely through, and held up 

 the stream. I sought every turn of the water on foot, 

 the boys leading my horse, but failed to fall in with a 

 buck serolomootlooque. I therefore retraced my steps 

 down the river to a spot where buffaloes had drunk on 

 the preceding evening, and there spent the night. 



In the morning I rode down to a likely cover for se- 

 rolomootlooques opposite the drift. Here I started one 

 old buck, but did not fire ; he went off barking exactly 

 like a roebuck, which they very much resemble in form, 

 gait, voice, and habit. Following on after this buck, I 

 started two does, one of which I shot. Here I left one 

 of my after-riders with two of the steeds, while I and 

 Ruyter rode down the bank of the Limpopo to explore. 

 I found the river wearing quite a different appearance 

 below its junction, being very much broader — nearly 

 as large, indeed, as the Orange River. Crocodiles of 

 enormous size were to be seen at every turn, and I shot 

 four huge fellows. We then fell in with a large rock 

 serpent, or " metsapallah," about eleven feet long, which 

 T shot with a ball through the head, and brought to 

 camp slung round my neck. 



Havir g resolved over night to rob a colony of bees 

 of their precious stores, and to try for the old serolo- 

 mootlooque at the drift, I started on the 25th at day- 

 dawn, with two after-riders, one of them carrying a 

 large tin pail for the expected honey. After crossing 

 the river I stalked carefully through the cover where 

 the serolomootlooque dwelt. I started him and another 

 buck, but failed to obtain a shot. I then sent my aftw. 



