OttAP. VIII. BEAUTY OF THE COUNTRY. 173 



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 winch our party 

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

 existence winch 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 Hon came at daybreak, and went 

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

 occasionally from the waggon-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 contmuing 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. Tins 

 we could observe in then tones. 



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

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

 waggons; the vines festooned the trees, among which appeared 

 the real banian (Fieus indied), 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 

 watercourses, now resembling small rivers, twenty yards broad 

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



