COMFORTS OF AFRICA. 
57 
Matakoola mouth, to try for a sea-cow. It was 
nearly dark before we arrived. We saw a lot of 
sea-cows, but they were very shy. I struck two, 
and think I killed one, but there was no sign of 
him in the morning, and if he was really dead he 
must have drifted some distance down the river. 
It rained incessantly the whole night, and we 
were miserably uncomfortable, as we had no shelter 
whatever, but lay smoking and steaming, and got 
up as stiff as biscuits the next morning, without a 
dry rag to put on, some fourteen miles from camp, 
and the grass in many places up to the waist, and of 
course soaking wet. To complete the delights of 
African shooting, it was so murky and foggy that 
I never could have found my way back alone; but 
the Kaffirs have a wonderful instinct that way. On 
reaching the camp, I got a cup of hot coffee and 
dry clothes, and was soon all right, but sustained a 
grievous disappointment at receiving no letters from 
home; the Kaffir we despatched having returned 
from the bay bringing word that there were none 
for me, though three mails at least must have 
arrived. 
White and the rest of the party got so far back 
again all well, but they had had no sport. I rode 
over to see them in the afternoon, and spent a very 
pleasant couple of hours with them. I got a sack of 
mealies for my unhappy pony, which greatly re¬ 
joiced me. 
23 rd .—White and his party treked on, intending 
