two should kill a Matebele warrior first, in defense of the wagon,
should possess both the calves.

I had three muskets for my people, a rifle and double-barreled
smooth-bore for myself; and, having seen such great abundance of game in
my visit to the Leeba, I imagined that I could easily supply the wants
of my party. Wishing also to avoid the discouragement which would
naturally be felt on meeting any obstacles if my companions were obliged
to carry heavy loads, I took only a few biscuits, a few pounds of tea
and sugar, and about twenty of coffee, which, as the Arabs find, though
used without either milk or sugar, is a most refreshing beverage after
fatigue or exposure to the sun. We carried one small tin canister, about
fifteen inches square, filled with spare shirting, trowsers, and shoes,
to be used when we reached civilized life, and others in a bag, which
were expected to wear out on the way; another of the same size for
medicines; and a third for books, my stock being a Nautical Almanac,
Thomson's Logarithm Tables, and a Bible; a fourth box contained a magic
lantern, which we found of much use. The sextant and artificial horizon,
thermometer, and compasses were carried apart. My ammunition was
distributed in portions through the whole luggage, so that, if an
accident should befall one part, we could still have others to fall back
upon. Our chief hopes for food were upon that; but in case of failure,
I took about 20 lbs. of beads, worth 40s., which still remained of the
stock I brought from Cape Town, a small gipsy tent, just sufficient to
sleep in, a sheep-skin mantle as a blanket, and a horse-rug as a bed. As
I had always found that the art of successful travel consisted in taking
as few "impedimenta" as possible, and not forgetting to carry my wits
about me, the outfit was rather spare, and intended to be still more
so when we should come to leave the canoes. Some would consider it
injudicious to adopt this plan, but I had a secret conviction that if
I did not succeed, it would not be for want of the "knick-knacks"
advertised as indispensable for travelers, but from want of "pluck",
or because a large array of baggage excited the cupidity of the tribes
through whose country we wished to pass.

The instruments I carried, though few, were the best of their kind.
A sextant, by the famed makers Troughton and Sims, of Fleet Street;
a chronometer watch, with a stop to the seconds hand--an admirable
contrivance for e