CHAPTER XXV.

Immense Flocks and Herds.— Night Watch for Liors. — Two Panthers killed. — Two Lions bagged. — The Camp moves on.— Religion of the Base. — Origin of various African Tribes.

I NEVER saw any thing like the flocks and herds that were in the country. Cattle, sheep, and goats were there in thousands. We were told there were over five thousand head of cattle alone, and the number of sheep and goats must have been far greater. In a country like this, the labour of watering these large flocks and herds is very great. Wells have to be dug in the bed of the kJior often to the depth of from ten to twenty feet, with the hands, for they possess no such implements as spades ; and, to prevent the soft sand from falling in, they have to be lined with boughs, palm-leaves, etc. When the wells are finished, a quantity of dry clay is brought from the banks ; and after being carefully kneaded and puddled, it is finally made into huge basins with raised sides, much resembling spongebaths. These basins are, of course, made at the mouth of the wells, and filled with water. When the cattle and goats arrive, instead of rushing immediately in a body to quench their thirst, which would of course result in the trampling-down and destruction of these clay drinking-troughs, the animals are trained to approach the water in turn, no more being allowed to go at a time than can conveniently drink together. It was a most curious and interesting sight to watch ; and, if I had not seen it with my own eyes, I should be slow to believe that 220