182 
WE LEAVE ELLYRIA. 
[chap. V. 
kisras and honey for breakfast; but, for several days not 
having tasted meat, I took the rifle for a stroll through 
the forest in search of game. After an hours ramble 
I returned without having fired a shot. I had come 
upon fresh tracks of Tetel (hartebeest) and guinea- 
fowl, but they had evidently come down to the stream 
to drink, and had wandered back into the interior. If 
game was scarce, fruit was plentiful—both Richarn 
and I were loaded with a species of yellow plum as 
large as an egg; these grew in prodigious numbers 
upon fine forest trees, beneath which the ground was 
yellow with the quantities that had fallen from the 
boughs ; these were remarkably sweet, and yet acid, 
with much juice, and a very delicious flavour. 
At 11.25 we again started for a long march, our 
course being east. The ground was most favourable for 
the animals, being perfectly flat and free from ravines. 
We accordingly stepped along at a brisk pace, and the 
intense heat of the sun throughout the hottest hours 
of the day made the journey fatiguing for all but 
the camels. The latter were excellent of their class, 
.and now far excelled the other transport animals, 
marching along with ease under loads of about 600 lbs. 
each. 
My caravan was at the rear of the traders party; 
but the ground being good, we left our people and 
