134 
DEPAETUKE FROM BAKWAIN COUNTRY. CiiAr. VII. 
CHAPTEE VIL 
Departure from tlie coiintiy of the Bakwains — Large black ant — Land 
tortoivses — Diseases of wild animals — Habits of old lions — Cowardice 
of the lion — Its dread of a snare — Major Yardon’s note—The roar 
of the lion resembles the cry of the ostrich — Seldom attacks full-grown 
animals — Buffaloes and lions — Mice — Serpents — Treading on one — 
Venomous and harmless varieties — Fascination — Sekomi’s ideas of 
honesty — Ceremony of the Sechu for boys — The Boyale for young 
women — Bamangwato hills — The Unicorn’s Pass — The country beyond 
— Grain — Scarcity of water — Honourable conduct of English gentlemen 
— Gordon Cumming’s hunting adventures — A word of advice for young 
sportsmen — Bushwomen drawing water — Ostrich — Silly habit — Paces 
— Eggs — Food. 
Having remained five days with tlie wretched Bakwains, seeing 
the effects of war, of which only a very inadequate idea can ever 
be formed by those who have not been eye-witnesses of its miseries, 
we prepared to depart on the 15th January, 1853. Several dogs, 
in better condition by far than any of the people, had taken up 
then residence at the water. No one would own them; there 
they had remained, and, commg on the trail of the people, long 
after their departm^e from the scene of conflict, it was plain they 
had 
“ Held o’er the dead their carnival.” 
Hence the disgust with which they were viewed. 
On our way from Khopong, along the ancient river-bed wliicli 
forms the pathway to Boatlanama, I found a species of cactus, 
being the tlnrd I have seen in the country,—namely, one in the 
colony with a bright red flower, one at Lake Ngami, the flower of 
which was hver-coloured, and the present one, flower unknown. 
That the plant is uncommon may be inferred from the fact that 
the Bakwains And so much difficulty in recognismg the plant again 
after having once seen it, that they believe it has the power of 
changing its locahty. 
On the 21st January we reached the wells of Boatlanama, and 
found them for the first time empty. Lopepe, wliicli I had for¬ 
merly seen a stream running from a large reedy pool, was also dry. 
The hot salt spring of Serinane, east of Lopepe, being undrinkable. 
