SHORT COMMONS. 
69 
to superintend the baking of some bread, walked off 
with a cold goose and a pot of amas — the whole of 
our larder, with the exception of two pieces of salt 
pig. On my return one day, after an unsuccessful 
hunt, I was delighted to find that White had suc¬ 
ceeded in buying a goat from the Kaffirs, for four 
ostrich feathers. 
21 st (Sunday). — Not going out anywhere, I took 
the opportunity of putting my three guns into killing 
order, considering it no worse to employ myself use¬ 
fully than to pass the time loitering about, whistling, 
&c., to kill time. 
We remained in the same place a fortnight longer, 
chiefly occupied in cutting out felt shoes, dyeing 
clothes, and casting bullets, and making other pre¬ 
parations for our hunting expedition on the return of 
the wagons. The weather was cold and wet, game 
exceedingly scarce, and provisions in camp, conse¬ 
quently, very short. We were reduced at last to 
water porridge, rice and pumpkins, with a few occa¬ 
sional ducks and pigeons. 
30 th, — Killed three snakes out of a rotten 
tree, all different kinds of tree-snakes. They all 
came out of the same hole, while I was cutting 
out two bullets. 
Had some exciting sport with sea-cows in a 
narrow river, with very high reeds on both banks. 
To get a shot, I was obliged to climb the trees over¬ 
hanging the river, and had one or two good chances, 
but the villainous black ants fell upon me vigorously, 
