28 A NIGHT SCENE.

penetrated, returning by a more northerly route to
Cape Town. His first book of Travels contains an
account of this expedition. It is full of lively
descriptions, pictures of his chases of the elephant
and rhinoceros, of his faithful Hottentots, and of
the various incidents of his hfe in the wilds.

As I have said, the simplicity and innocent
boyish enthusiasm of Le Vaillant impart an air of
romance to his pages. What, for example, can be
more amusing than the following picture of a night
scene in the wilds P—

‘Returning one morning to the camp, I per-
ceived a stranger on horseback advancing. It was
a Hottentot with letters for me sent on from the
Cape; they were the first I had received since my
departure. These letters were from my dearest
friend—my wife! JI cannot describe my impa-
tience on taking the packet from the messenger.
Hagerly my eyes glanced over the lines. All were
well and happy. I was beloved and regretted ;
aifection followed me though in a desert, filling
my heart with tender remembrances. ;

‘That night I was rather too generous in the
distribution of my tobacco, having given my people
enough to occasion intoxication ; this, however, I
was now contriving means to prevent. After
having drank my tea, I ordered a box to be brought
and placed before me, which, opening with an air