24 
THE NEW AFRICA 
before subjecting it to the drying process, and this is certainly 
advisable when it is intended to keep the meat for long, 
especially if it is cut into more substantial strips several inches 
thick. But for ordinary, everyday use, we found simple drying 
of one-inch thick pieces quite answer the purpose, and a distinct 
saving in salt. If one lets the natives have the run of this 
scarce commodity in the interior, for preserving purposes, there 
is no telling where their extravagance or appetites will end; 
they simply revel in salt! 
Here, at the Makarikari, we saw the first really large baobab 
tree, thirty-two feet in diameter—a huge, conical structure, whose 
branches fade into insignificance compared to the enormous trunk, 
with its shiny, grey surface and soft, pappy wood. The gourd¬ 
like oval shells of the fruit this tree bears are much in request 
by the natives for carrying water, while the glutinous, fruity 
matter adhering to the oval seeds inside the fruit has a pleasant, 
strong acid taste, and is highly appreciated as an addition to 
drinking-water on the hot, long marches in this dry atmosphere. 
We all supplied ourselves with several of these shells, and by 
boring a hole in one end, and fitting it with a cork, made a 
very decent bottle, which, filled up with water, provided a very 
pleasant beverage, that also acted as a slight aperient. 
At Nata the formation of rocks is a loose, green grey sand¬ 
stone, alternating with lime layers, probably of the Cretaceous 
era, although we had no opportunity of verifying this surmise. 
Continuing our journey through the ever monotonous sand- 
belts and turf laagtos as before, we found water more frequently, 
some of the pans supporting innumerable wild-fowl, most deli¬ 
cious in flavour when cooked on the embers. Hammar and I 
usually allowed the cart to get a start of us in the early morn¬ 
ing, Franz trekking off at three o’clock, while we remained at 
the fireside until daylight, to make walking more pleasant. 
With the first streak of dawn we would be up and after them, 
usually arriving where they had outspanned, to find all in a 
bustle with preparations for breakfast, and the oxen greedily 
feeding on the still dewy grass. As soon as we had satisfied 
