in pools. As the herbage was destroyed on the
side where they were, they would have crossed the bed of the river
before they unyoked, but that they found impossible. The animals were so
impatient for the water, that, had they not been released, they would
have broken the wagons.

Horses, oxen and sheep all plunged into the pools together, and for some
minutes appeared as though they would never be satisfied. They at last
went out, but soon returned again, till their sides were distended with
the quantity of the element which they had imbibed.

An hour was allowed for the animals to rest and enjoy themselves, and
then they were again yoked to drag the wagons to the other side of the
river, where there was a sufficiency of pasturage and of wood to make up
their fires.

As it was their intention to remain there for a day or two, the wagons
were drawn up at some distance from the river, so as not to interfere
with the path by which the wild animals went down to drink. The spoors
or tracks of the lions and buffaloes and other animals were so abundant,
as to show that this precaution was necessary.

As soon as the wagons were arranged in the usual manner, the cattle were
permitted to graze till the evening, when they were brought in and
secured, as usual, inside and round the wagons. They supped off the
remainder of the springbok, which was not very sweet; but the horses and
men were both too much exhausted with the fatiguing journey to hunt
until the following day.

That night they were not disturbed by lions, but the hyenas contrived to
crawl under the wagons, and, having severely bitten one of the oxen,
succeeded in carrying off one of the sheep. They had been so often
annoyed by these animals, that we have never mentioned them; but on the
following morning it was found that the ox had been so seriously injured
that the leg-bone was broken, and they were obliged to destroy the
animal.

"Were the courage of the hyena equal to his strength, it would be a most
formidable animal," observed Swinton; "but the fact is, it seldom or
never attacks mankind, although there may be twenty in a troop. At the
same time, among the Caffres they very often do enter the huts of the
natives, and occasionally devour children and infirm people. But this is
greatly owing to the encouragement they receive from the custom of the
Caffres leaving their dead to be devoured by these animals, which gives
them a liking for human flesh, and makes