174 ADVENTURES IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



ward. Accordingly, on the 21st, I ordered my men to 

 inspan a-nd retrace their spoor. A troop of lions had 

 killed some game within a few hundred yards of us, 

 and had been roaring very loudly all the morning : 

 these gave us a parting salute as we were inspanning. 

 Their voices sounded to me ominous, perhaps from the 

 nervous state of my health. I thought they said, "Yes, 

 you do well to retrace your rash steps-; you have just 

 come far enough." I must, acknowledge that I felt a 

 little anxious as to the safety of proceeding further on 

 several accounts. First, the natives had spoken of 

 Moselekatze, now resident not very far in advance, as 

 one who would most unquestionably murder me, and 

 seize all my property. They also told me that I should 

 lose all my cattle by the fly called " Tsetse ;" and I had 

 also reason to believe the country in advance not very 

 healthy for man. 



My followers received my orders to turn homeward 

 with sincere gratification : we trekked till sundown, 

 halting on the march for a sick ox, which we eventually 

 left behind a prey to the lions, and slept on the Moko- 

 jay, where the Bamangwato men had left me. 



On the 29th we arrived at a small village of Baka- 

 lahari. These natives told me that elephants were 

 abundant on the opposite side of the river. I accord- 

 ingly resolved to halt here and hunt, and drew my wag- 

 ons up on the river's bank, within thirty yards of the 

 water, and about one hundred yards from the native 

 village. Having outspanned, we at once set about 

 making for the cattle a kraal of j;he worst description 

 of thorn-trees. Of this I had now become very par- 

 ticular, since my severe loss by lions on the first of this 

 month; and my cattle were, at night, secured by a 

 strong kraal, which inclosed my two wagons, the horses 



