There were many boys of about twelve years old, all of whom
were armed with bows and arrows, and they advanced in the same line with
the men. There were too many people, and the game became scared; so that
after a long walk, we returned to camp without having fired a shot.
"I found some very curious flowers, which issued from the ground in
pods, without leaves; these burst and threw out beautiful compact silk
balls in great numbers, not half of which could be returned to the pod
that had scattered them.
"On 22nd February we had purchased and stored, in expectation of the
arrival of the troops, 3,740 lbs. of flour.
"I was determined to carry a large supply to the south, as the country
had in some places been depopulated by the slave-hunters.
"February 23. - I went out with Lieutenant Baker, accompanied by some
natives, and travelled over very likely ground, composed of forest,
glades, ravines full of bamboos, &c., until we reached the base of Gebel
Forke.
"We had passed over several miles and had only seen a few small
antelopes, when upon ascending some rising ground in the very open
forest, we caught sight of a herd of tetel bounding along through some
high grass towards some low, rocky hills, a few hundred yards distant.
There were many large trees growing out of the clefts of the rocks, and
I proposed that Lieutenant Baker should go round the hill on my right,
while I should creep quietly over the summit of the rocks, as I expected
we should find the antelopes standing in some sheltered glade.
"When I arrived at the base of the small hill, which was not higher than
seventy or eighty feet, and was composed of large masses of granite, I
carefully ascended, without making the slightest noise.
"On arrival at the denuded summit, I was well concealed by a detached
block of granite that lay upon a flat weather-worn surface of the same
rock.
"I raised my head, and looked in vain for the antelopes. The ground was
a beautiful park, characterized by numerous masses of granite, like
ruined castles, among trees of all shades of green. The ground was
covered with young grass about six inches high, which had sprung up
after the annual fire that had destroyed the last year's dry herbage.
"I could see no game. Presently I observed the native, who was a few
yards on my left, making eager gestures, and pointing with his finder in
order to direct my attention. I at once perceived a family of wild pigs
which had emerged from some bush, and were quietly feeding along the
glade, so that they would shortly pass in front of me within sixty
yards.
