BEAUTY OP THE COUNTRY. 191 



on the peculiar air of displeasure which these animals sometimes 

 assume before they resolve on flight. A large white rhinoceros 

 came along the bottom of the valley with his slow sauntering gait 

 without noticing us ; he looked as if he meant to indulge in a mud 

 bath. Several buffaloes, with their dark visages, stood under the 

 trees on the side opposite to the pallahs. It being Sunday, all 

 was peace, and, from the circumstances in which our party was 

 placed, we could not but reflect on that second stage of our ex- 

 istence which we hope will lead us into scenes of perfect beauty. 

 If pardoned in that free way the Bible promises, death will be a 

 glorious thing; but to be consigned to wait for the Judgment-day, 

 with nothing else to ponder on but sins we would rather forget, 

 is a cheerless prospect. 



Our Bushmen wished to leave us, and, as there was no use in 

 trying to thwart these independent gentlemen, I paid them, and 

 allowed them to go. The payment, however, acted as a charm on 

 some strangers who happened to be present, and induced them to 

 volunteer their aid. 



The game hereabouts is very tame. Koodoos and giraffes 

 stood gazing at me as a strange apparition when I went out with 

 the Bushmen. On one occasion a lion came at daybreak, and 

 went round and round the oxen. I could only get a glimpse of 

 him occasionally from the wagon-box ; but, though barely thirty 

 yards off, I could not get a shot. He then began to roar at the 

 top of his voice ; but the oxen continuing to stand still, he was so 

 disgusted that he went off, and continued to use his voice for a long- 

 time in the distance. I could not see that he had a mane ; if he 

 had not, then even the maneless variety can use their tongues. 

 We heard others also roar ; and, when they found they could not 

 frighten the oxen, they became equally angry. This we could 

 observe in their tones. 



As we went north the country became very lovely; many new 

 trees appeared ; the grass was green, and often higher than the 

 wagons ; the vines festooned the trees, among which appeared the 

 real banian (Ficus Tndica), with its drop-shoots, and the wild date 

 and palmyra, and several other trees which were new to me ; the 

 hollows contained large patches of water. Next came water- 

 courses, now resembling small rivers, twenty yards broad and four 

 feet deep. The further we went, the broader and deeper these 



