without food--and not a particle of
grass do I see in any direction--the poor cattle will soon be starved to
death. We must see Senhor Silva and your cousin David, and hear what
they say."

Soon afterwards we were joined by David, and in reply to Mr Fraser's
remarks, he said he hoped that Stanley was sufficiently recovered to
bear the fatigue of travelling in the waggon. I undertook to arrange a
bed slung from the roof, by which any jolting might be avoided. Calling
Jack Handspike to my assistance, we soon contrived a comfortable cot for
my cousin.

Meantime every arrangement was made for starting. The oxen were
harnessed to the huge machine; Kate and Bella took their seats by the
side of their brother. The word was given to move on. The Hottentot
drivers smacked their huge whips, and the lumbering waggon was put in
motion. Natty and Leo had greatly recovered; but that they might not be
fatigued, room was also made for them inside. Donald and Senhor Silva
mounted their horses, and David and I agreed to take one between us.
When he rode, I was to walk, or mount an ox. The rest of the party
proceeded on foot, or on the oxen. Far as the eye could reach, nothing
but brown earth and leafless shrubs and trees could be seen; the
ravaging hordes of locusts had cleared off every particle of verdure
from the ground. North and south, east and west, the country had become
a barren wilderness. The prospect for our poor oxen was a melancholy
one. We could only push on therefore as fast as they could travel, in
the hope of speedily getting beyond the ravaged country. Our friend
Donald looked very grave. All day long we travelled on. The cattle
began to show signs of thirst. We ourselves were also suffering from
want of water, as we were afraid of exhausting the small supply we had
brought in our bottles. At length some rocks appeared ahead, near which
Donald told us was a pool. The cattle seemed to be aware of it, and
eagerly moved on; but as we got near, no bright gleam, such as gladdens
the sight of the thirsty traveller, played on the spot. On arriving at
it, a mass of locusts and their larvae were alone visible, completely
filling the space where the water should have been.

Our men immediately set to work, and literally dug them out and threw
them in masses on the shore. We ourselves could not have drunk a drop.
The pool seemed filled with a thick, muddy, and putrid liquid. The
cattle, however, when let