Page 90 - Adventures in Africa

plants which met at the top, hanging back in an
umbrella shape, completely shading them. I shot

several doves and other birds to serve us for dinner,
and while Jan was cooking them I went in search of
fruit, and discovered an abundance of medlars very

similar to those we have in England, as well as some
small purple fig's growing on bushes. The most

curious fruit I met with was like a lime in appearance,
with a thick rind, but inside was a large nut. I had
to climb a tree to obtain them, for all those lower

down had been carried off by elephants who were
evidently very fond of the fruit.
As our object was to make as much haste as

possible, I w’as resolved not to go out of the way
to shoot any large game, though I kept my rifle

loaded with ball as a defence against lions, leopards,
rhinoceroses, or hyaenas.
The first day’s journey WTe saw several in the

distance, though none came near us. W e formed
our camp at the foot of a tree, with a large fire in

front of us, and on either side of the trunk we erected
a fence of stout stakes in a semi-circular form • so we
hoped that we should be able to sleep without being

molested by wTild beasts. The ox remained outside,
and we knew that he would run to the fire, should

danger threaten him.
The usual cries proceeding from an African forest
prevented us from sleeping over soundly, and I was

awTakened by the roar of a lion, which stood on a
mound some little distance from our camp, afraid of
approaching near our fire, and the palisade which he

probably took for a trap.