THEFT AND FEAR. 
251 
many threats unless the lost objects were produced. The fright was 
greats and^ congregating together at the extremity of the settle- 
ment^ two or three men stepped out of the crowd and promised to 
bring back the missing articles. The din and hubbub were inces- 
sant^ and terminated in a wild shout as both the articles were pro- 
duced and handed over to me. 
Passing about half an acre of ground bearing the species of mint 
before alluded to^ cultivated for the oil it produces^ the path con- 
ducted us through corn-fields with ripening grain^ then a forest^ 
again corn-fields^ and eventually into high grass. At nine a.m. 
halted three-quarters of an hour^ in the first instance to refresh^ 
and prolonged in consequence of the non-appearance of three of 
our men^, who probably had struck into some one of the numerous 
pathways. A couple of shots were fired^ and six men with a guide 
were sent in search of the missing ones : we proceeded on our way. 
Another halt took place in a pretty well wooded dingle^ with a sheet 
of water at the bottom. ” Coffee and lunch proved welcome j and 
whilst waiting for our still absent men we caught a few^ to us^ new 
small dragon-flies_, with dark and scalloped wings^ also a butterfly 
of a large size^ dark in colour^ with a blue stripe dividing the wings 
into equal parts. In the course of an hour our missing ones and 
scouts^ who^ as anticipated^ had struck into a wrong path_, came up. 
The march was continued; and the water to be crossed,, though 
but knee-deep^ had a troublesome muddy bottom,, proving very diflfi- , 
cult for horses and donkeys^ and two of our fatigued cattle were 
lost^ sinking deep in the mud. Some portion of their carcases was 
hacked off by the porters^ which they cheerfully added to their 
loads,, rejoicing in the prospect of a hearty dinner. 
Travelling in open bush^ and slender herbage on the back of the 
same kind of dark coarse red sandstone as before described^ at one 
