n two places, however, no efforts sufficed to clear the way; the blocks
rose in such jagged masses that it was absolutely impossible for the
oxen to pull across them,--indeed it was with the greatest difficulty
that when unyoked they were one by one got over; then tackles were
fastened from the top of the rock to the waggons below--ropes and blocks
being generally carried by travellers for such emergencies,--the oxen
fastened to the ends of the ropes, and with the purchase so obtained the
waggons were dragged bodily one by one over the obstacles.

It was not until late in the afternoon that the party passed safely
through the defile and reached the valley beyond, men and animals worn
out by the exertions they had undergone.

The day had not passed without excitement, for when they were engaged at
the most difficult point of the journey the crack of rifles was heard
far overhead, and for half an hour a steady fire was kept up there.
Those below were of course wholly ignorant of what was passing there,
and for some time they suffered considerable anxiety; for if their guard
above had been overpowered they must have been destroyed by rocks cast
down by their foes.

At the end of half an hour the firing ceased; but it was not until they
camped for the night in the valley beyond the gorge that they learned
from the hunters, who joined them there, what had happened. There were,
Jumbo explained, three or four hundred natives, but fortunately these
approached from the opposite side of the gorge; consequently the little
party of defenders was in no danger of attack. The enemy had been
disconcerted when they first opened fire, but had then pressed forward
to get to the edge of the ravine. The superior weapons of the defenders
had, however, checked them, and finding that there was no possibility of
coming to close quarters with the little band, they had, after losing
several of their number, abandoned the attempt and fallen back.

Soon after nightfall they were startled by a heavy crashing sound, and
great rocks came bounding down the sides of the valley. The cattle and
waggons were at once moved to the centre of the watercourse, and here
they were safe, for the bottom of the valley was so thickly strewn with
great boulders that, tremendous as was the force with which the rocks
loosened far above came bounding down, these were either arrested or
shivered into fragments by the obstacles before they reached the centre
of the