WALKING IN CIRCLES
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sia,—I have been interested in your correspondents' views about " walking in circles," but so far no one seems to give any explanation for doing so.
In your issue of January 9th I notice that one gentleman was inclined to make a circle to the " left " when in dense mist ; this, however, is something in my line of travel. I was camping some seventy odd miles from Livingstone on one of the smaller rivers of Zambesi when 'early one morning I made a trip into the Mopani forest (scarcely any bush to speak of, although heavily timbered with tall hard wood trees, clear flat veld with little undergrowth). After walking, according to my shadow, S.S.E. for two and a-half to three hours, the weather became overcast and I lost sight of the sun, but concluded that it was for only a short time. I kindled a fire to while away the time. The clouds became heavier and a little rain fell: I then began to feel uneasy and tried to fix my mind on the direction I had come, but owing to 'thesameness of the veld this was impossible. Some distance from my fire was a cluster of saplings in which direction I " thought" I had come, and therefore Made a bee line, as I thought, with an effort to reach some point of the river I had left. I must have tramped some five or six miles When to my utter dismay I arrived back at the smouldering remains of my previously made fire, making almost a complete circle—to the left. I had neither watch nor compass. Fortunately the sun reappeared about 4.30 r.u., when I lost no time in making for my camp, which I reached about two hours after sunset. I am right-handed.—I am,
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