84 TRAVELLERS BENIGHTED. 



friend who had arrived only a few hours previously 

 from Port Elizabeth, on his way to Graham's Town. 

 Whilst we were conversing on the unpleasantness of 

 travelling in the dark without a guide, he remarked 

 that the last time he was at this place, just pre- 

 paring to start early in the morning, he observed 

 two persons approaching him, and found, to his sur- 

 prise, that they were two gentlemen from Cape 

 Town, who, not being so fortunate as ourselves in dis- 

 covering this comfortable shelter, had spent the night 

 in an adjacent thicket, at no very great distance from 

 the house. Here they were exposed to the annoyance 

 of jackals and hysenas, whose dismal yells completely 

 banished all attempts at repose, and so completely 

 sickened was one of the party of travelling in this 

 country, that he resolved not to hazard the chance* of 

 passing a second night in so uncomfortable a situa- 

 tion : he remained accordingly at the inn until the 

 return of his companion, who proceeded alone to 

 transact the business which had brought them from 

 Cape Town. 



The wolves, as the hyaenas are here called, kept 

 up a hideous noise during the night round the cattle 

 kraal, which was situated at the back of the house ; 

 but they were prevented from attacking the cattle by 

 the incessant barking of the dogs. The landlord, 

 speaking of the number of elephants which used to 

 infest the vicinity of his cottage, related that, being 

 out cutting wood in the forest shortly after his arrival, 



