ble feathers. The cave had been
untouched, and it was with no small satisfaction that I loaded up the ox
with its contents, as we prepared to set off the next morning on our
return, intending, on our way back, to obtain the elephant's tusks we
had deposited in the tree, which had afforded me such seasonable shelter
when attacked by their owner.

We met as before buffaloes, elands, koodoos, and various antelopes. As
I was walking along ahead, suddenly I found my face enveloped as if by a
thick veil; and as I was tearing off the web--for such it was--I caught
sight of a large yellow spider, hauling himself up to the tree above.
In the neighbourhood were many other webs, the fibres radiating from a
centre point where the greedy insect was waiting for its prey.

Each web was about a yard in diameter, and the lines on which they were
hung, suspended from one tree to another, were as thick as coarse
thread. We occasionally met with serpents, but they generally kept out
of our way.

One day, during a halt, while seated under a tree, I caught sight of
another enormous spider of a reddish tinge. Never did I see a creature
so active. It suddenly made its appearance from a hole in the bark, and
giving a tremendous bound, caught a large moth which it quickly
devoured. With wonderful rapidity it ran about the tree, now darting
forward, now springing back. With a feeling of horror lest it should
spring upon me, I removed to a distance. On looking down on the ground,
I saw what I at first thought was a coin the size of a shilling; but on
looking closer I discovered that it was of a pure white silky substance
like paper, and that it formed the door to a hole. On trying to lift it
up I discovered that it was fastened by a hinge on one side, and on
turning it over upon the hole it fitted exactly--the upper side being
covered with earth and grass, so that, had it not been for the
circumstance that the inmate had been out, I could not possibly have
detected it. Jan said it was the hole of a spider, probably the
creature I had seen engaged in seeking its prey.

While encamped that night, I heard the crashing of heads and horns. Jan
told me it was caused by a troop of buffaloes who were fighting.
Presently a loud snorting and puffing reached our ears. The uproar
increased, and he declared that the noise was produced by rhinoceroses
and buffaloes quarrelling. My fear was that in their heady fight the
animals might come our wa