ins north of Kuruman. I counted a stream of them, which, by the
time it took to pass toward the reeds of that valley, must have numbered
upward of four thousand. Only a few of these birds breed at any time in
this country. I have often observed them, and noticed that there was no
appearance of their having paired; there was no chasing of each other,
nor any playing together. There are several other birds which continue
in flocks, and move about like wandering gipsies, even during the
breeding season, which in this country happens in the intervals between
the cold and hot seasons, cold acting somewhat in the same way here
as the genial warmth of spring does in Europe. Are these the migratory
birds of Europe, which return there to breed and rear their young?

On the 31st of December, 1852, we reached the town of Sechele, called,
from the part of the range on which it is situated, Litubaruba. Near
the village there exists a cave named Lepelole; it is an interesting
evidence of the former existence of a gushing fountain. No one dared to
enter the Lohaheng, or cave, for it was the common belief that it was
the habitation of the Deity. As we never had a holiday from January to
December, and our Sundays were the periods of our greatest exertions in
teaching, I projected an excursion into the cave on a week-day to see
the god of the Bakwains. The old men said that every one who went in
remained there forever, adding, "If the teacher is so mad as to kill
himself, let him do so alone, we shall not be to blame." The declaration
of Sechele, that he would follow where I led, produced the greatest
consternation. It is curious that in all their pretended dreams or
visions of their god he has always a crooked leg, like the Egyptian
Thau. Supposing that those who were reported to have perished in this
cave had fallen over some precipice, we went well provided with lights,
ladder, lines, &c.; but it turned out to be only an open cave, with
an entrance about ten feet square, which contracts into two water-worn
branches, ending in round orifices through which the water once flowed.
The only inhabitants it seems ever to have had were baboons. I left
at the end of the upper branch one of Father Mathew's leaden teetotal
tickets.

I never saw the Bakwains looking so haggard and lean as at this time.
Most of their cattle had been swept away by the Boers, together with
about eighty fine draught oxen; and much provision left with them by
two off