LOST IN THE BUSH. 
215 
with one of my Kaffirs and Donna. A tremendous 
thunderstorm came on, with torrents of cold drench¬ 
ing rain. I had on nothing but a very light pair of 
canvas 6 ducks ’ and a wretched thin shirt. I took no 
notice of the way we came, as I relied solely on my 
Kaffir; but when I told him to make haste back to 
the wagons, he was lost. We wandered about back¬ 
wards and forwards as hard as we could go, to 
keep the blood in circulation, till sunset, when, in 
trying to find an overhanging rock to sleep under, 
to give us some little protection, I luckily came on 
an old shed, which we at once set to work to 
thatch and make water-tight. After great difficulty, 
as everything was soaking wet, we succeeded in 
lighting a fire, and passed the night not so badly. 
The morning was dull and misty, and we could see 
no distance, and had no idea of our whereabouts. 
We walked hard and silently from one hill to an¬ 
other, climbing the tallest trees; and the Kaffir puzzled 
me to death by being sure the sun rose in the west. 
Of course he knew nothing about east or west, but 
he pointed in the latter direction. It is a dreadful 
country to be lost in, consisting chiefly of thick 
bush. After descending a mountain, you can see 
nothing ; and, unless you take great care, you cannot 
walk in the direction you intend, as you must twist 
and twine about to get through the bush. Then, 
if your thoughts wander for an instant, you will 
assuredly go wrong. At mid-day I lay under a rock 
to rest, when, in spite of myself, most unpleasant 
