DEATH OF “ FRENCHMAN.” 
373 
heaved off two eland skins to lighten the wagons, 
and a starved wretch of a Masara immediately pro¬ 
ceeded to make a meal of a part, and cut up the rest 
in portions that he could carry away for the same 
purpose. 
ISth [Friday). — Letloche .— On Sunday afternoon 
I left Massouey, and lost my road in consequence 
of the one I meant to travel being so overgrown with 
grass as to be invisible. I was sorry on account of 
the poor oxen, as the sun was roasting, the sand 
heavy, and the bush thick. I reached Labotani on 
Monday night, having got over a vast deal of ground; 
found plenty of water, and rested my oxen on 
Tuesday, and we killed pallah, blue wildebeest, and 
springbuck, six in all. I was awakened out of my 
first sleep by hearing a short husky cough. I started 
up and never closed my eyes again that night. Alas ! 
I was only too well acquainted with what it por¬ 
tended, and had it been my own summons instead of 
my poor horse Frenchman’s, I could not have been 
much more concerned. I remained over Wednesday, 
and I was buoying myself up with the hope that 
lots of bran mashes and boiled mealies might still 
bring him round. He came to the wagon and to me, 
and looked in the most piteous manner for help. I 
cannot bear to see a dumb animal in suffering, 
so I shouldered my gun and went after game, and 
the old nag tumbled over, just as I returned at 
sunset, dead. Yesterday I inspanned and came on 
here: this is a wild, pretty out-of-the-way place, 
