machs." "Neither can I;
but I hear you white men are all very fond of these bones, so I offer
them; I want to put the goats into my own stomach." A trader, who
accompanied us, was then purchasing ivory at the rate of ten good large
tusks for a musket worth thirteen shillings. They were called "bones";
and I myself saw eight instances in which the tusks had been left to rot
with the other bones where the elephant fell. The Batauana never had
a chance of a market before; but, in less than two years after our
discovery, not a man of them could be found who was not keenly alive to
the great value of the article.

On the day after our arrival at the lake, I applied to Lechulatebe for
guides to Sebituane. As he was much afraid of that chief, he objected,
fearing lest other white men should go thither also, and give Sebituane
guns; whereas, if the traders came to him alone, the possession of
fire-arms would give him such a superiority that Sebituane would be
afraid of him. It was in vain to explain that I would inculcate peace
between them--that Sebituane had been a father to him and Sechele, and
was as anxious to see me as he, Lechulatebe, had been. He offered to
give me as much ivory as I needed without going to that chief; but when
I refused to take any, he unwillingly consented to give me guides. Next
day, however, when Oswell and I were prepared to start, with the horses
only, we received a senseless refusal; and like Sekomi, who had thrown
obstacles in our way, he sent men to the Bayeiye with orders to refuse
us a passage across the river. Trying hard to form a raft at a narrow
part, I worked many hours in the water; but the dry wood was so
worm-eaten it would not bear the weight of a single person. I was not
then aware of the number of alligators which exist in the Zouga, and
never think of my labor in the water without feeling thankful that I
escaped their jaws. The season was now far advanced; and as Mr. Oswell,
with his wonted generous feelings, volunteered, on the spot, to go
down to the Cape and bring up a boat, we resolved to make our way south
again.

Coming down the Zouga, we had now time to look at its banks. These are
very beautiful, resembling closely many parts of the River Clyde above
Glasgow. The formation is soft calcareous tufa, such as forms the bottom
of all this basin. The banks are perpendicular on the side to which
the water swings, and sloping and grassy on the other. The slopes are
selected for