34 
AFRICAN HUNTING. 
two Kaffir smiths, who were trying to mend one of 
the wagons which had broken down. The bellows 
consists of a small clay tube or pipe next the 
fire, and two cows’ horns fastened on two leather 
bags, which are kept alternately open and shut. 
It requires some knack to work, but when 
skilfully handled it makes a really good current 
of air, producing a red-hot charcoal fire in a few 
minutes. 
August 6th .—Notwithstanding a dreadfully stormy 
day, high wind and rain, and severe cold, we treked 
on a few miles. In the evening a panther seized Hope¬ 
ful by the throat almost from under the wagon, and 
within five yards of the tent where we were eating 
our supper in the dark, on account of the wind. We 
all sallied out just in time to save the dog, who got 
off with a frightful wound in the throat, which 
swelled nearly as big as his body. It was too dark, 
however, to shoot the panther. 
7th .—Got safely up Panda’s stony hill, the worst 
I ever saw, it being all that twenty-two oxen could 
manage to drag up one wagon; but the poor things 
were labouring under great disadvan tage, most of them 
having the tongue and clove sickness. The next day 
we came in sight of Nedwingu, Panda’s kraal, but 
we were still some fifteen miles distant, owing to the 
hilliness of the country. Our progress was very slow, 
on account of the illness of the oxen. On the 10 th 
we saw a herd of koodoos, and were told by the 
Hottentots who brought us wood at night, that there 
