A WHITE MAN’S GRAVE. 
413 
but a more desolate spot to lay one’s bones can 
hardly be conceived: I only hope such a fate may 
not be mine. I was very nearly losing two of my 
horses; they went back in search of water at night, 
and at daylight we started on the spoor. Boccas was 
first, and saw two lions lie in waiting; he was 
within fifteen yards when he first perceived them, 
fired at the head of one and jumped into a tree; 
fired again out of the tree, wounding one, when they 
made off, and five minutes after, the lost horses came 
trotting down to the water. The lions were as thin 
as planks ; they had not killed anything, and would 
have pounced on the horses instantly, but it is not 
their usual practice to kill game in the day-time. 
I have no appetite, and trail my limbs after me as 
if they did not belong to me ; it is a great exertion 
to get into the wagon, and my system is fearfully 
enervated. There are wild ducks here, but I have 
not energy enough in my whole frame to go and 
shoot them, though they are not 200 yards off. I 
send my youngsters to stir them up, and take my 
chance of a dinner as they come past, and, as they 
keep the river in their flight, I generally intercept 
one or two as they come past, with the same small 
eighteen-Burrow. 
11th .—Wearied to death : still at Nanta, waiting 
for my other wagon, and no news, good or bad, of it 
as yet. No Kaffir can keep an appointment. My 
oxen are not in a fit state to retrace their steps, 
and my horses are equally poor ; two of the former 
