SEPT.] CONTINENT OF AFRICA. 403 
underground towards the Great River, and was 
reported to form itself into pools lower down. 
Though this part of Africa be nearly forsaken of 
men, it has plenty of inhabitants — hundreds of lizards 
and field mice were almost constantly visible, and so 
unacquainted with man that they amused themselves 
round about our waggons— and during the afternoon, 
nine lions were seen in the vicinity. One of our 
Hottentots was in imminent danger of being devoured 
by (hree of them which he came upon unawares among 
bushes. They stood looking towards each other for 
some time ; when he turned about to make a sign to 
his companion to come to his assistance they advanced, 
but immediately, on turning his eyes towards them, 
they made a halt ; when the other came up with his gun, 
they walked o(f. We killed a large puff adder which 
is a very venemous species of serpent. The evening 
M^as cool whieh made us hasten to rest, so that I 
believe not one of us was awake much after ten. 
A few clouds appeared in the evening at the bottom 
of the horizon to the westward which were viewed 
as a rarity, having had almost constant sun-shine with 
a clear sky for more than three months. 
8th. Thermometer at sun-rise, 46. At noon, 70* 
We proposed commencing our journey in the afternoon, 
should our oxen return from water, in search of which 
we dispatched three Hottentots with them on the 
preceding day. 
.1 F 2 
