Year: 1874

IL was on the AFTERNOON OF one OF
the hottest days Of an African sum-
mer that I left my farm to ascend
the Draakensburg Mountain, for the
purpose Of finding, if possible, an
eland--a species of antelope to
replenish my larder for the coming
Christmas. I was at the time living
alone IN glen formed by two spurs
of the mountain, with but few neigh
bors, and no town within fifty miles
but my Kafres had become suh-
GENTLY civilized to understand that
Christmas-time meant unlimited eat
ing,and I wished, by providing game,
to save an OK. I had only five or six
miles to go, and was well mounted
so I did not hurry, but, leading my
horse up the steep pass, reached the
place where I intended to sleep, just
as the sun was setting.


The scene around, though quite
different from our ideas of what it
should be in December, was very
beautiful. There was no snow, no
leafless trees with their delicate ira
Gerry set off by the glittering hoar-
frost, nor dark green frs bending
under their white load; but still
there was enough to keep me stand
ing. forgetful of fre-wood and all T
had to do for my comfort during
the night.


I was on a narrow ledge of rock,
separated from the network of hills
beyond, by deep, perpendicular
gorge, at the bottom of which, SO
low down that I could hardly dis
tinguish it, ran little burn. The
setting sun gave the peaks that rich
purple hue seldom seen away from
heather; and on the other side, as
far as the eye could reach, lay the
thorn-covered fats and hills of Ma
tai.


Under the rock was a large cave,
where I had determined to Sleep
It had in olden times been regular
resort of the Bushmen, but few
came near it now-indeed, [ had
not known they came at all, but on
going in, I found some calabashes,
and the ashes Of a newly-made fire,
that could have been left only by
them. There were other marks on
the walls, though evidently of great
antiquity: rude sketches and draw
ings Of cattle, horses, bows and al
rows. and even of q Bushman riding.
It is most curious that a race so low
down in the scale of humanity that
their language contains only a few
unpronounceable clicks, and who,
with the exception Of fire, in their
mode of life differ but little from
the ape, should have learned to do
this. It may be that it is q rem
nant of an old sign-language, or the
last relic of some former civilization.
It was full moon, and, after ad-
miring the wonderful lights and
shadows thrown by it on the bro
ken ground, I turned in and slept
till near daylight.


As soon as I could see, I started
to hunt. Much to my annoyance at
the time, though I had afterward
cause to be thankful that my horse
was spared such gallop as riding
down an eland entails, I could find
nothing, and could tell by the spoors
that no herd had been about for
some days. It was nearly noon be-
fore I became convinced of this; and
tempted By the shade of line of
tree ferns, edging a little brook
whose bubble sounded refreshingly
amid the great heat, I took my sad
die of, knee-haltered Prince, and
lay down. Of course, I soon dozed
of, but became awake in couple of
hous-I say became awake be-
cause it was not the natuHgi rousing
up Of person who Ass been asleep,
but a sudden return to conscious