as thick as a crow-quill, and covered with black hair. It puts its head
into a little hole in the ground, and quivers its tail rapidly; the ants
come near to see it, and it snaps up each as he comes within the range
of the forceps on its tail. As its head is beneath the ground, it
becomes a question how it can guide its tail to the ants. It is probably
a new species of ant-lion ('Myrmeleon formicaleo'), great numbers of
which, both in the larvae and complete state, are met with. The ground
under every tree is dotted over with their ingenious pitfalls, and the
perfect insect, the form of which most persons are familiar with in the
dragon-fly, may be seen using its tail in the same active manner as
this insect did. Two may be often seen joined in their flight, the
one holding on by the tail-forceps to the neck of the other. On first
observing this imperfect insect, I imagined the forceps were on its
head; but when the insect moved, their true position was seen.

The forest, through which we were slowly toiling, daily became more
dense, and we were kept almost constantly at work with the axe; there
was much more leafiness in the trees here than farther south. The leaves
are chiefly of the pinnate and bi-pinnate forms, and are exceedingly
beautiful when seen against the sky; a great variety of the
papilionaceous family grow in this part of the country.

Fleming had until this time always assisted to drive his own wagon, but
about the end of March he knocked up, as well as his people. As I could
not drive two wagons, I shared with him the remaining water, half a
caskful, and went on, with the intention of coming back for him as
soon as we should reach the next pool. Heavy rain now commenced; I was
employed the whole day in cutting down trees, and every stroke of the
axe brought down a thick shower on my back, which in the hard work was
very refreshing, as the water found its way down into my shoes. In the
evening we met some Bushmen, who volunteered to show us a pool; and
having unyoked, I walked some miles in search of it. As it became dark
they showed their politeness--a quality which is by no means confined
entirely to the civilized--by walking in front, breaking the branches
which hung across the path, and pointing out the fallen trees. On
returning to the wagon, we found that being left alone had brought out
some of Fleming's energy, for he had managed to come up.

As the water in this pond dried up, we were soon obli