PREPARING TO CROSS THE DESERT. 33 



' The Matebele, the mortal enemies of the Bechuanas, are 

 in the direction of the lake, and, should they kill the white 

 man, we shall incur great blame from all his nation." 



The exact position of the Lake Ngami had, for half & 

 century at least, been correctly pointed out by the natives, 

 who had visited it when rains were more copious in the 

 Desert than in more recent times, and many attempts had 

 been made to reach it by passing through the Desert in the 

 direction indicated; but it was found impossible, even for 

 Griquas, who, having some Bushman blood in them, may 

 be supposed more capable of enduring thirst than Euro- 

 peans. It was clear, then, that our only chance of suc- 

 cess was by going round, instead of through, the Desert. 

 The best time for the attempt would have been about the 

 end of the rainy season, in March or April, for then we 

 should have been likely to meet with pools of rain-water, 

 which always dry up during the rainless winter. I com- 

 municated my intention to an African traveller, Colonel 

 Steele, then aide-de-camp to the Marquis of Tweedale at 

 Madras, and he made it known to two other gentlemen, 

 whose friendship we had gained during their African travel, 

 namely, Major Vardon and Mr. Oswell. All of these gentle- 

 men were so enamored with African hunting and African 

 discovery that the two former must have envied the latter 

 his good fortune in being able to leave India to undertake 

 afresh the pleasures and pains of desert life. I believe Mr. 

 Oswell came from his high position at a very considerable 

 pecuniary sacrifice, and with no other end in view but to 

 extend the boundaries of geographical knowledge. Before 

 I knew of his coming, I had arranged that the payment 

 of the guides furnished by Sechele should be the loan of 

 my wagon to bring back whatever ivory he might obtain 

 from the chief at the lake. When, at last, Mr. Oswell 

 came, bringing Mr. Murray with him, he undertook to 

 defray the entire expense of the guides, and fully executed 

 his generous intention. 



Sechele himself would have come with us, but, fearing 

 C 



