bushmkn's mode of lion-hunting. 91 



shared with him the remaining water, half a caskful, and 

 went on, with the intention of coming back for him as 

 soon as we should reach the next pool. Heavy rain now 

 commenced; I was employed the whole day in cutting dowu 

 trees, and every stroke of the axe brought down a thick 

 shower on my back, which in the hard work was very 

 refreshing, as the water found its way down into my shoes 

 In the evening we met some Bushmen, who volunteered 

 to show us a pool; and, having unyoked, I walked some 

 miles in search of it. As it became dark they showed 

 their politeness — a quality which is by no means confined 

 entirely to the civilized — by walking in front, breaking the 

 branches which hung across the path, and pointing out the 

 fallen trees. On returning to the wagon, we found that 

 being left alone had brought out some of Fleming's energy, 

 for he had managed to come up. 



As the water in this pond dried up, we were soon 

 obliged to move again. One of the Bushmen took out his 

 dice, and, after throwing them, said that God told him to 

 go home. He threw again, in order to show me the com- 

 mand, but the opposite result followed; so he remained 

 and was useful, for we lost the oxen again by a lion driving 

 them off to a very great distance. The lions here are not 

 often heard. They seem to have a wholesome dread of the 

 Bushmen, who, when they observe evidence of a lion's 

 having made a full meal, follow up his spoor so quietly 

 that his slumbers are not disturbed. One discharges a 

 poisoned arrow from a distance of only a few feet, while 

 his companion simultaneously throws his skin cloak on the 

 beast's head. The sudden surprise makes the lion lose his 

 presence of mind, and he bounds away in the greatest con- 

 fusion and terror. Our friends here showed me the poison 

 which they use on these occasions. It is the entrails 

 of a caterpillar called N'gwa, half an inch long. They 

 squeeze out these, and place them all around the bottom 

 of the barb, and allow the poison to dry in the sun. They 

 are very careful in cleaning their nails after wording with 



