HELPLESS CONDITION. 265 



custom among all colonial servants, the instant the 

 leopard sprang he discharged his piece in the air, and 

 then, dashing it to the ground, rushed down the bank 

 and sprang into the river, along which he swam some 

 hundred yards before he would venture on terra firma. 

 The natives, though numerous and armed, had like- 

 wise fled in another direction. 



CHAPTER XXXII. 



Mr. Orpen and myself in a helpless Condition — We leave the low-lying 

 .'('..lipopo for the Moantains — Trading with Seleka — Ceremony to im 

 part the Power of successful Shooting — March to the Ngotwani and 

 retrace our Steps to the Limpopo — Enormous Herds of Buffaloes — 

 An exciting Lion Hunt — Three of my Dogs killed — The noble Beast 

 takes the Water, followed by a Dog and a Crocodile — A bold Mount- 

 ain Ranger — Abundance of Game — A brilliant Lion Hunt — Two killed 

 out of a Troop of four — Rhinoceros Hunting — Leave the Mariqua 

 River — Sublime Scenery — Another Lion Hunt — A Buffalo rips up my 

 After-rider's Horse — Camelopard Chase — Making a Road to cross 

 the Ngotwani — Sudden Encounter with two huge Lions — Arrival at 

 Sichely's Kraal. 



Both Orpen and myself were now reduced to a state 

 of utter helplessness — he from his wounds, which were 

 many and dangerous, and I from the fever, though I 

 was slowly recovering. It was of no use, therefore, to 

 remain longer in the low-lying district about the Lim- 

 popo, so I resolved to march on steadily to Sichely's 

 country. We accordingly marched on the 27th of Sep- 

 tember, and on the 2d of October encamped on the 

 bank of the Limpopo, a little above its junction with 

 the Lepalala. Here Seleka's men requested me to halt 

 a day, as their chief wished to trade with me, which I 

 agreed to do. 



Vol II.— M 



