A man came near us, but positively refused to guide us to Matipa, or anywhere else.
The sick people compelled us to make an early halt.
_27th January, 1873._--On again through streams, over sponges and rivulets thigh deep.

There are marks of gnu and buffalo.

I lose much blood, but it is a safety-valve for me, and I have no fever or other ailments.
_28th January, 1873._--A dreary wet morning, and no food that we know of near.

It is drop, drop, drop, and drizzling from the north-west.

We killed our last calf but one last night to give each a mouthful.