On the other hand, if we kept to the east of the mountains the veld through which we must pass was thickly populated, which meant that in all probability we could buy grain.
What finally decided us to adopt this route, however, was that here in these warm, low-lying lands there would be grass for the oxen.

Indeed, now, at the beginning of spring, in this part of Africa it was already pushing.

Even if it were not, the beasts could live upon what herbage remained over from last summer and on the leaves of trees, neither of which in this winter veld ever become quite lifeless, whereas on the sere and fire-swept plains beyond the mountains they might find nothing at all.

So we determined to risk the savages and the lions which followed the game into these hot districts, especially as it was not yet the fever season or that of the heavy rains, so that the rivers would be fordable.
I do not propose to set out our adventures in detail, for these would be too long.

Until the great one of which I shall have to tell presently, they were of an annoying rather than of a serious nature.