The great and insuperable drawback to this
country is a want of water ; while in no portion
of the land abundant, in many parts it is totally
devoid of this necessary of life. Rains also are
irregular, whole seasons having been known to
pass without the fall of a single shower.
At one time game of nearly every description
known in South Africa was exceedingly abundant
here, but the introduction of fire-arms among the
natives has greatly reduced its numbers.
A very few years ago I wandered about the
country I have been attempting to describe,
and, as my conveyance was a bullock waggon,
seldom did I accomplish more than fifteen miles a
day, hunting, and hunting alone, being my object ;
thus I neither excited the jealousy of traders, or
the .opposition of missionaries. So the former
often supplied ray wants at reasonable prices,



FeUow-Passengcrs. 1 3

'hile the latter introduced me to chiefs, procured
^dt for me to shoot upon, and obtained infor-
tation for ray guidance, viz. where the game was
rincipally congregated.
Thus it was that I became acquainted — -I may

ny, intimately so — with many of the chiefs, nura-

srs of the people, and a very great portion of

, comparatively-speaking, Httle known land.
When the details of the Insanwala disaster
cached England, my former military experience
nd knowledge of South African travel told mo
t once that the weak point of our army was the
•ansport department; and, after due consider-
tion and thought, I came to the conclusion that
om the Bechuanas a number of people could be
btained to act as drivers, forelopera, or in any
ther capacity in which we might choose to em-
loy them.
This idea I communicated to the authorities.
