154 BEAUTY OF COUNTRY AT UNKU. 



At Unku we came into a tract of country which had 

 been visited by refreshing showers long before, and every 

 spot was covered with grass run up to seed, and the flowers 

 of the forest were in full bloom. Instead of the dreary 

 prospect around Koobe and Nchokotsa, we had here a 

 delightful scene, all the ponds full of water, and the birds 

 twittering joyfully. As the game can now obtain water 

 everywhere, they become very shy, and cannot be found 

 in their accustomed haunts. 



ist March. The thermometer in the shade generally 

 stood at 98 ° from 1 to 3 p.m., but it sank as low as 65 ° by 

 night, so that the heat was by no means exhausting. At 

 the surface of the ground, in the sun, the thermometer 

 marked 125 , and three inches below it 138 . The hand 

 cannot be held on the ground, and even the horny soles 

 of the feet of the natives must be protected by sandals 

 of hide ; yet the ants were busy working on it. The water 

 in the ponds was as high as ioo° ; but as water does not 

 conduct heat readily downwards, deliriously cool water 

 may be obtained by any one walking into the middle and 

 lifting up the water from the bottom to the surface with 

 his hands. 



Proceeding to the north, from Kama-kama, we entered 

 into dense Mohonono bush, which required the constant 

 application of the axe by three of our party for two days. 

 This bush has fine silvery leaveSj and the bark has a sweet 

 taste. The elephant, with his usual delicacy of taste, 

 feeds much on it. On emerging into the plains beyond, 

 we found a number of Bushmen, who afterwards proved 

 very serviceable. The rains had been copious, but now 

 great numbers of pools were drying up. Iyotus-plants 

 abounded in them, and a low sweet-scented plant covered 

 their banks. Breezes came occasionally to us from these 

 drying-up pools ; but the pleasant odour they carried 

 caused sneezing in both myself and people ; and on the 

 10th of March (when in lat. 19 16' 1 1" S., long. 24 24' K.) 

 we were brought to a stand by four of the party being 

 seized with fever. I had seen this disease before, but did 

 not at once recognise it as the African fever ; I imagined 

 it was only a bilious attack, arising from full feeding on 

 flesh, for, the large game having been very abundant, 

 we always had a good supply ; but instead of the first 

 sufferers recovering soon, every man of our party was in a 

 few days laid low, except a Bakwain lad and myself. 



