68 
the Limpopo, of whicli the Oliphant is a tributary, seems 
very small, judging by the time we have already taken to 
do so short a distance ; and Dubois does not hurry the 
Caffres as much as he might. 
We have been much struck by the enormous mounds 
thrown up by the white ants ; we saw many of them ten 
or fifteen feet high, and measuring perhaps fifty yards 
round the base, tapering up to a peak at the top ; and in 
some parts, I believe, they are found much larger. These 
ants are most destructive little brutes, travelling in all 
directions under ground, and we find it necessary repeatedly 
to move our fiour sacks, or they would soon work a hole 
into them ; they always commence operations by plastering 
the object of attack with mud, and passing through the 
earth eat their way in without ever shewing themselves. 
My watch came to grief to-day which is a great bore, but 
fortunately E. has one still going. We calculate that we 
have now done about eighty-four miles travelling, but at 
least half this must be deducted for our windings, thus 
leaving only the other half to be reckoned as distance 
made from point to point. Fortunately the ponies and 
Jack" are still well, and able to travel in spite of the 
^^fly," which has been most numerous all through the 
country we have travelled. Our clothes are beginning to 
look rather shaky from their contact with the thorns, but 
fortunately E. is the best off in this respect. This 
afternoon some men were despatched to a neighbouring 
kraal to try again for some grain or other food, and also 
for bearers. 
July 2lth, Sunday, Dubois in the afternoon went out 
on a pony to reconnoitre, and fell in with a herd of buffalo 
which nearly ran over him, but not wishing to alarm them 
he didn't shoot, and I am hoping for a chance to-morrow. 
Some Caffres turned up from the kraals we had sent to, 
and brought some meal made from the inyout or birdseed. 
