ng.'"

They halted their caravan upon a rising ground, and having taken the
precaution to see the water-kegs filled and the wood collected, they sat
down to dinner upon fried ham and cheese; for the Hottentots had
devoured all the buffalo-flesh, and demanded a sheep to be killed for
supper. This was consented to, although they did not deserve it; but as
their tobacco had been stopped for their neglect of providing fuel and
keeping up the fires, it was considered politic not to make them too
discontented.

Alexander had been walking by the side of the river with the Major,
while the Hottentots were arranging the camp, and Swinton was putting
away some new specimens in natural history which he had collected, when
Omrah, who was with them, put his finger to his lips and stopped them.
As they perfectly understood what he required, they stood still and
silent. Omrah then pointed to something which was lying on the low
bank, under a tuft of rushes; but they could not distinguish it, and
Omrah asked by signs for the Major's rifle, took aim, and fired. A loud
splashing was heard in the water, and they pushed their way through the
high grass and reeds, until they arrived at the spot, where they
perceived an animal floundering in the agonies of death.

"An alligator!" exclaimed the Major; "well, I had no idea that there
were any here inland. They said that there were plenty at the mouths of
the rivers, on the coast of the Eastern Caffres, but I am astonished to
find one here."

"What did you fire at?" asked Swinton, who now joined them.

"An alligator, and he is dead. I am afraid that he won't be very good
eating," replied the Major.

"That's not an alligator, Major," said Swinton, "and it is very good
eating. It is a large lizard of the iguana species, which is found
about these rivers; it is amphibious, but perfectly harmless, subsisting
upon vegetables and insects. I tell you it is a great delicacy, ugly as
it looks. It is quite dead, so let us drag it out of the water, and
send it up to Mahomed by Omrah."

The animal, which was about four feet long, was dragged out of the water
by the tail, and Omrah took it to the camp.

"Well, I really thought it was a small alligator," said the Major; "but
now I perceive my mistake. What a variety of lizards there appears to
be in this country."

"A great many, from the chameleon upwards," replied Swinton. "By the
bye, there is one which is said to be very venomous. I