We obtained also from the village some yam roots, which had greatly the taste of potatoes, though of a closer texture. They also were placed in the sun to dry before being cooked, and we found by putting them in dry sand that they would keep well for a considerable time. The yam is the root of a climbing plant which David called the _Dioscoreo-sativa_. It had tender stems, eighteen to twenty feet in length, and sharp-pointed leaves on long foot stalks. From the base of the roots are spikes of small flowers. The roots are black and palmated, and about a foot in breadth. Within they are white, but externally of a very dark brown colour. Besides this another sort was brought to us a little time afterwards, called the _Dioscoreo-alata_, very much larger than the former. Some, indeed, were fully three feet long, and weighed nearly thirty pounds. "How it would delight an Irishman's heart to see a potato as big as this root!" exclaimed Leo. "It would be a hard matter, however, to find a pot big enough to boil it in, or to steam it afterwards, to make it mealy." CHAPTER TWELVE. INCIDENTS DURING OUR RESIDENCE ON THE MOUNTAIN. The boys were continually asking Timbo and Igubo when they were going to catch them another pet. They were with me one day when the two men arrived loaded with the flesh of an animal which Stanley had shot. "What is that?" I asked. "He bery good eat," was the answer; "like a little horse." "But what is it called in England?" I inquired. "Him zebra," he answered; "mark over back. We cooky for supper." "I wish Stanley had caught him alive," said Leo. "Now, Timbo, cannot you manage to get a young one for us, or a couple, and then we could break them in, and make them carry us." "Him no carry no one," answered Timbo. "He wild. Kick off, even dough you stick on like Chico." "But we could soon teach Chico to ride it. I suspect that it would puzzle even a zebra to kick him off." "We will try," said Timbo. "We go and make many pitfalls; but take care, Massa Natty, you no tumble in when tiger or leopard dere." I found that the men had already dug some pitfalls, though hitherto, excepting a koodoo, nothing had been caught in them. Next morning they set off to visit the pits, accompanied by the boys. In rather more than an hour they came back, Leo and Natty dragging a beautiful little animal between them, while the two men brought the head and skin and a quantity of meat of another. David, who was with me, ran out to meet them. "They have got a gemsbok!" he exclaimed; "one of the most interesting of the antelope tribe. It is known also as the oryx." "How did you catch it?" he asked. "We found it in the pit!" exclaimed the boys at once; "the mother and the young one. Poor little creature. The mother fought so furiously that the men were obliged to kill her, and not till then could we get the young one out. But it will make a capital playmate for the koodoo."