atal Bay, and knew that these birds had been attracted by
the bodies of the captain and sailors, whose bones they would pick, and
leave but little for the hyaenas and jackals.

As soon as I saw no indications of men anywhere I walked on the high
land near the sea, keeping a little on the side next the sea, so that I
could not be seen from the land side. Every now and then I ascended to
the ridge, just high enough to see over it, and then examined the
country to discover anything going on near me. I should have found the
opera-glasses very useful here; but my eyes had been well-trained, and I
was not likely to fail in seeing anything unusual within one or two
miles of me. People who have not been accustomed to use their eyes
much, especially in a wild country, do not know how the sight can be
cultivated. It is a case of eyes and no eyes. One man will see the
spoor of animals and signs of different kinds, whilst another will not
notice one of these things. A snake, for instance, I never missed
seeing, and was as unlikely to put my foot on a snake without seeing it,
as some men would be to put their foot in a pool of water.

I walked on towards the Umlass river, sometimes through thick bush,
sometimes on the open ground, but saw no indications of men having
lately passed over the ground. There were some old kraals here, but
they had been long deserted; but some mealies were growing near the
kraal, where the gardens had been, and some of these I gathered and ate:
though they were rather tough, still they were good for food.

Not having slept much on the previous night, and the sun being now high
in the heavens, and giving great heat, I decided to sleep for awhile. I
therefore examined all the ground for about the distance of two
assagy-throws from me, to see if there were any signs of snakes near;
for I did not wish to sleep where it was likely a poisonous snake might
crawl over me, or a large rock-snake become familiar. Seeing no signs
of snakes, I lay down under the branches of a large euphorbia tree; and
there, in the shade, I was soon fast asleep.

When I awoke, it was because of some noise which had disturbed me; and,
upon glancing round, I saw some twenty or thirty men, armed with
assagies, standing round me. At first I thought they were Zulus, but,
on a second look, knew they were men of the Umzimvubu tribe; and I then,
to my delight, recognised my old friend Inyati, and near him my
companion Inyoni. At