242 
AFRICA AND ITS EXPLORATION. 
keep liis “ vessel ” in good condition, for on it depends 
liis very existence in the vast solitudes of the wilder¬ 
ness. In front is a wide box-like seat, generally 
painted green, on which sits the coachman or driver 
in solitary grandeur, his long whip in his hand and 
his short pipe in his mouth. In the present instance 
I had two carts, one driven by the bastard Hottentot 
“ Jack,” the other by “ Philips.” As both speak a 
little English they consider themselves quite aristo¬ 
cratic, take their meals alone, make the Kaffir servants 
wait upon them, and expect to be addressed as “ Mr. 
Bokkis ” and “ Mr. Philips.” Like all men with a drop 
of Hottentot blood in their veins, they are first-rate 
oxen drivers, but incorrigibly careless. They have a 
decidedly good opinion of themselves, and a thorough 
relish for gin and whisky. 
Day after day Mohr pressed on with his waggons, 
and generally in company with other travellers, Boers, 
English, and even Germans. For some days he camped 
on the Limpopo river, and after crossing made for 
Shoshong. He got fair sport, and had occasional ad¬ 
ventures with lions. The following extract will give 
some idea of the sort of life travellers in this part of 
Africa had to lead, which was not so much overrun by 
Europeans as it is now. The Hiibner mentioned was a 
companion who had been lost :— 
We pressed on without a moment’s rest from 5 to 
10 p.m., for, after the noise made by wild beasts the 
night before, I was anxious about Hiibner’s isolated 
position, and would not for the world have left him 
alone in the forest a third night. Shortly before dusk 
the lions recommenced their concert, and my Kaffirs 
thought it well to go on in advance, carrying burning 
brambles fastened to poles. At last we saw a fire 
glimmering through the bush on the left; we fired 
twice, and in a few minutes Hiibner and I were re¬ 
united. He had had a truly African adventure early 
that same day, which he would never forget as long as 
lie lived. After he had sent my men back to the 
Palatje with a message that there was plenty of water 
