222 
AFRICAN HUNTING. 
venomous of all— and yesterday, walking with only 
a shirt and gaiters, I very nearly trod on one about 
twelve feet long; he escaped knobkerries and 
assegais, and beat four of us, and eventually gained 
a hole, into which he disappeared like magic. We 
hit him several times, but he was so flat to the ground 
we could not hurt him, but only made him savage. 
The wagon stuck fast, and we had to off-load. The 
dissel-boom was sprung, and the hind axle also, 
almost leaving us in a fix. We hope it will hold 
together till we get to the game, as here there is 
nothing, and we have nothing to eat; and the Kaffirs 
will not sell buck or sheep, as they want us to leave 
the country. 
18th .—We have been making good play towards 
home the last few days, having given up all hope of 
