PREPARING TO CROSS THE DESERT 
“ The Matobele, tho mortal enemies of the Beihuanna, arc 
in tho direction of tho lake, and, should they kill tho white 
man, we shall incur great blame from all his nation.” 
Tho exact position of the Lake N garni had, for hall a 
oentury at least, been correctly pointed out oy the natives; 
who had visited it when rains were more copious in the 
Desert than in more recent times, and many attempts had 
been made to reach it by passing through the Desert in the 
direction indicated; but it was found impossible, oven for 
Griquas, who, having some Bushman blood in them, may 
bo supposed more capable of enduring thirst than Euro- 
peans. It was clear, then, that our only chance of suo- 
ecss was by going round, instead of through, the Desert. 
The best time for the attempt would have been about tho 
ond of the rainy season, in March or April, for then we 
should have been likely to meet with pools of rain-water, 
which always dry up during tho rainless winter. I com- 
municated my intention to an African traveller, Colonol 
Steele, then aide-de-camp to the Marquis of Tweedale at 
Madras, and he made it known to two other gentlemen, 
whose friendship we had gained during their African travel, 
namely, Major Vardon and Mr. Oswell. All of these gentle- 
men were so enamored with African hunting and African 
discovery that the two former must have envied the latter 
his good fortune in being ablo to leave India to undertake 
afresh the pleasures and pains of dosert life. I behove Mr. 
Oswell came from his high position at a very considerable 
pecuniary sacrifice, and with no other end in view but to 
extend the boundaries of geographical knowledge. Before 
l knew of his coming, I had arranged that tho payment 
-*f the guides furnished by Sechelo should bo tho loan of 
my wagon to bring back whatever ivory ho might obtain 
from the chief at tho lake. When, at last, Mr. Oswell 
camo, bringing Mr. Murray with him, ho undertook to 
defray tho entire expense of the guides, and fully executed 
bis gonerous intention. 
8echole himself would have come with us, but, fearing 
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