In passing along we see every where the power of vegetation in breaking up the outer crust of tufa.  A mopane-tree, growing in a small chink, as it increases in size rends and lifts up large fragments of the rock all around it, subjecting them to the disintegrating influence of the atmosphere.  The wood is hard, and of a fine red color, and is named iron-wood by the Portuguese.  The inhabitants, observing that the mopane is more frequently struck by lightning than other trees, caution travelers never to seek its shade when a thunder-storm is near—­“Lightning hates it;” while another tree, the “Morala”, which has three spines opposite each other on the branches, and has never been known to be touched by lightning, is esteemed, even as far as Angola, a protection against the electric fluid.  Branches of it may be seen placed on the houses of the Portuguese for the same purpose.  The natives, moreover, believe that a man is thoroughly protected from an enraged elephant if he can get into the shade of this tree.  There may not be much in this, but there is frequently some foundation of truth in their observations.

At Rapesh we came among our old friends the Bushmen, under Horoye.  This man, Horoye, a good specimen of that tribe, and his son Mokantsa and others, were at least six feet high, and of a darker color than the Bushmen of the south.  They have always plenty of food and water; and as they frequent the Zouga as often as the game in company with which they live, their life is very different from that of the inhabitants of the thirsty plains of the Kalahari.  The animal they refrain from eating is the goat, which fact, taken in connection with the superstitious dread which exists in every tribe toward a particular animal, is significant of their feelings to the only animals they could have domesticated in their desert home.  They are a merry laughing set, and do not tell lies wantonly.  They have in their superstitious rites more appearance of worship than the Bechuanas; and at a Bushman’s grave we once came to on the Zouga, the observances showed distinctly that they regarded the dead as still in another state of being; for they addressed him, and requested him not to be offended even though they wished still to remain a little while longer in this world.

Those among whom we now were kill many elephants, and when the moon is full choose that time for the chase, on account of its coolness.  Hunting this animal is the best test of courage this country affords.  The Bushmen choose the moment succeeding a charge, when the elephant is out of breath, to run in and give him a stab with their long-bladed spears.  In this case the uncivilized have the advantage over us, but I believe that with half their training Englishmen would beat the Bushmen.  Our present form of civilization does not necessarily produce effeminacy, though it unquestionably increases the beauty, courage, and physical powers of the race.  When at Kolobeng I took notes