ADONIS. 
411 
three days ahead, for my other wagon, and then, 
after the first rains, go out together. 
Adonis has killed four more large bulls; he runs 
with the speed and endurance of an ostrich, and is 
one of the very best shots, in all Africa. With these 
accomplishments of nature, if his heart was only 
in the right place, he might, in a few years, make a 
fortune, but even a moderate amount of pluck has 
not fallen to his share. Nothing would induce him 
to watch the water at night, even in company, and 
the roar of a lion at night makes him take himself 
off at his best pace at once. Still, he is the best man 
this year of my party, heading me in elephants by 
two, and he is on foot and I on horseback; but he 
is in the midst of numbers, while I seldom find one; 
the tsetse prevent my being able to go into their 
stronghold. 
My plans are now to go on horseback to Mosili- 
katse, if he will receive me, to ask him what I must 
pay him to give me a hunting-velt next year, and 
send him also presents to the amount of about 15/.; 
but I shall be no loser by doing this, as he is certain 
to send me in return, if he accepts them, more than 
an equivalent. It is about seven days from here 
to his State, I believe ; but it is almost impossible to 
get at the truth from any enquiries amongst the 
natives here, as he is so much dreaded by one and 
all, that they are positively afraid to speak of him. 
Oct. 8th. — Nanta. -— I take up my pen to kill 
time, as it weighs very heavily on my hands just 
