What bushes there were were clustered with them,-- all over the leaves and branches, as if swarms of bees had settled upon them.

Not a leaf or blade of grass that was not covered with their bodies! They moved not, but remained silent, as if torpid or asleep.

The cold of the evening had deprived them of the power of flight.
What was strangest of all to the eyes of Von Bloom and Hendrik, was the conduct of their own horses and cattle.

These were some distance out in the midst of the sleeping host; but instead of being alarmed at their odd situation, they were greedily gathering up the insects in mouthfuls, and crunching them as though they had been corn! It was with some difficulty that they could be driven off; but the roar of a lion, that was just then heard over the plain, and the repeated application of Swartboy's _jambok_, rendered them more tractable, and at length they suffered themselves to be driven home, and lodged within their kraals.
Swartboy had provided himself with a bag, which he carried back full of locusts.
It was observed that in collecting the insects into the bag, he acted with some caution, handling them very gingerly, as if he was afraid of them.

It was not _them_ he feared, but snakes, which upon such occasions are very plenteous, and very much to be dreaded--as the Bushman from experience well knew..