THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 PRESENTED BY 
 
 PROF. CHARLES A. KOFOID AND 
 
 MRS. PRUDENCE W. KOFOID 
 
Digitized by tine Internet Archive 
 
 in 2007 with funding from 
 
 IVIicrosoft Corporation 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/daysnightsbydeseOOgillrich 
 
DAYS AND NIGHTS 
 
 BY 
 
 THE DESERT 
 
DAYS AND NIGHTS 
 
 BY 
 
 THE DESERT 
 
 ^ 
 
 BY 
 
 PARKER GILLMORE 
 
 (UBIQUE) 
 
 AUTHOR OF 
 THE GREAT THIRST LAND," *' GUN, ROD, AND SADDLE," ETC. 
 
 ITH NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 LONDON 
 
 KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH & CO., i, PATERNOSTER SQUARE 
 
 1888 
 
{The rights of translation andofre/>7-oduction are resenied.) 
 

 PREFACE 
 
 The country I try to describe borders on the 
 Great Kalihari Desert. The reader will find 
 it north-west of the Orange River, in South 
 Africa. This narrative is a continuation of 
 the description of the journey I published last 
 year, under the name of "A Hunter's Arcadia." 
 The large game, such as elephants, etc., will 
 be treated of in a future volume. As the 
 travelling in this part of the world is very 
 rough, none but strong heavy weapons should 
 be taken by those who propose following in 
 my footsteps. 
 
 PARKER GILLMORE. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 I. A Dangerous Ride — Introduction to Cigar i 
 II. One of Cigar's Adventures — Hunted by 
 
 Baboons ... ... ... ... 8 
 
 III. Uncertain Shooting — An Exciting Ex- 
 
 perience ... ... ... ... 19 
 
 IV. A Man-eating Lion — A Dangerous Episode 26 
 V. A Buck-jumper — Fight with a Zebra ... 31 
 
 VI. Different Species of Zebras— Weaver-Birds 
 
 and Snakes ... ... ... ... 39 
 
 VII. My Pet Lions — A Terrible Night ... 45 
 
 VII I. A Dangerous Bullock — An Irate Wild Boar 65 
 IX. Our Battery — A Tropical Storm ... 72 
 
 X. A Dangerous Thunderstorm — A Dissatisfied 
 
 Cook ... ... ... ... ... 79 
 
 XI. Wild Pigs — An Exciting Hunt ... 85 
 
 XII. Puff-Adders — The Strength of their Poison 93 
 
 XIII. The Pet Lions and my Baboon — A Foster- 
 
 MoTHER ... ... ... ... 102 
 
 XIV. Bakalihari Hunters — A Grateful Native 116 
 XV. A Picturesque Camp — A Gallant Hound 125 
 
 XVI. A Quiet Stalk — Successful Shots ... 130 
 
 XVII. A Herd of Game — In a Difficulty ... 134 
 XVIII. A Picturesque Camp — A Troublesome Lion 144 
 
viii CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER PAGE 
 
 XIX. The Young Lions again — The Driver 
 
 COMES TO Grief ... ... ... 150 
 
 XX. An Old Reprobate — An Exciting Adventure 161 
 
 XXI. Two Hounds killed — A Boer Lady ... 172 
 
 XXII. An Old Favourite blown up — Death of a 
 
 Lion ... ... ... ... 181 
 
 XXIII. A Splendid Trophy — The Giant Kingfisher 186 
 
 XXIV. A Break-down — Lovely Landscape ... 194 
 XXV. Cheetah — Ill-Assorted Travellers ... 201 
 
 XXVI. Wild Dogs — Honey-Birds ... ... 212 
 
 XXVII. The Big Zulu in Form — Beautiful Country 221 
 
 LIST OF FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 South African Lion 
 
 Bay Cat 
 
 Zebra 
 
 The Quagga... 
 
 Burchell's Zebra 
 
 Vlacke Vaark 
 
 Bush Pig 
 
 Gemsbok 
 
 The Mpala Antelope 
 
 Black-and-White Kingfisher ... 
 
 Springbok 
 
 Cheetah 
 
 Antelopes 
 
 Frontispiece 
 To face 20 
 
 » 34 
 
 ••• „ '38' 
 
 » 40 
 
 ... „ 68 
 
 „ 88 
 
 „ 126 
 
 „ 136 
 
 „ 192 
 
 „ 198 
 
 „ 202 
 
 » 230 
 
IT 
 
 AYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 A DANGEROUS RIDE INTRODUCtlON tO CJGAR. 
 
 If the moon Is in the right quarter, always select 
 the night, if possible, for making your most arduous 
 and waterless trecks. The reason for doing this is 
 that that portion of the twenty-four hours is the 
 coolest, and in consequence the cattle get over the 
 ground with greater celerity. The drivers and 
 attendants seem to enjoy these *' moonlight flittings," 
 for on such occasions they are ever most communi- 
 cative ; so, if one of them has a good story to tell, 
 and your march is progressing favourably, get him on 
 the waggon-box beside you, when, with a little coax- 
 ing, you may hear the whole yarn from start to 
 finish. It was under exactly such circumstances 
 that Cigar, my former Hottentot guide and com- 
 panion, whom I now expect soon to join me, told 
 me the following. But, before saying more about 
 this remarkable person, possibly I had better tell 
 my readers how I became acquainted with him. 
 
 B 
 
2 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 At the beginning of the Zulu war, I found 
 myself at Pieter-Maritzburg, where I had proceeded 
 from home by order of the War Office. My stay 
 in the pretty capital of Natal had only lasted a few 
 days, when the General in command ordered me 
 to proceed to the districts lying on the north-west 
 frontier of the Transvaal, there to enlist a large 
 force from our allies— the Bechuanas, whose duties 
 were to be to assist our troops to conquer the 
 supporters of the brave Ketchewao. 
 
 My task was no child's play, for I had to ride on 
 horseback nearly a thousand miles to reach the 
 place assigned to me to carry out my instructions ; 
 and so great was the disorder that reigned in the 
 Transvaal, that neither attendants nor guides could 
 be obtained by the General to accompany me. 
 
 If possible, go I must, so I spared no efforts to 
 obtain followers. But although I visited the Head 
 of the Department for Native Affairs, the good old 
 Bishop, and Magistrates, I was no more successful 
 than the General had been. Almost brought to 
 despair, I ransacked my brains, and thought and 
 thought how to surmount this obstacle, when an idea 
 occurred which I resolved to adopt, viz. visit the 
 prison, and, if I could find among Its inmates one 
 who promised to be a suitable person — why, then, 
 have the jail-bird released, and depend on him for 
 such services as my horses and myself absolutely 
 required. 
 
TOUGH TRAVELLING, 3 
 
 The inmates of the prison were certainly a most 
 forbidding lot in appearance, and to trust myself 
 with one of them for so long and fatiguing a journey, 
 simply appeared madness, and the keepers unhesi- 
 tatingly expressed themselves to that effect ; so I 
 was about to leave in despair, when I observed a 
 round-faced, good-tempered-looking lad, whose tout 
 ensemble pleased me much. 
 
 On inquiry I found his crime was not of a very 
 heinous nature, so I had him released, and took him 
 with me to the hotel. Of course, I thought this 
 man was a Zulu or Kaffir, and therefore understood 
 African travelling and hunting ; but alas ! I was 
 mistaken, for he was a West Indian darky, a sailor 
 by trade, knew nothing about a horse, and had only 
 been in Natal a short time. 
 
 Nothing daunted, I made the best of a bad 
 job, and three days afterwards crossed the giant, 
 rugged and picturesque Drakensberg mountains, 
 and slept in Harrysmith, in the Orange Free State. 
 From there to Marico, in a distant corner of the 
 Transvaal, I travelled, sometimes by night, less 
 frequently by day, being often threatened and 
 nearly always refused food and water by the inhos- 
 pitable Boers of that district. 
 
 I will not say that this lad did not do his utmost 
 to give me satisfaction, but his ignorance was most 
 trying. Fatigue and exposure, however, separated 
 us earlier than was expected ; for before two-thirds 
 
4 BAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 of my journey was completed, he died from ex- 
 haustion. 
 
 For some days he had complained, needlessly, 
 I thought ; but my mission would not brook delay. 
 So I urged him on, little deeming that when he 
 dismounted at Zeerust, he would never sit in a 
 saddle again. 
 
 I tell this little episode, not to excuse myself, but 
 to show others my error, and thus give them a 
 chance of avoiding it, for a willing man as well as 
 a willing horse may be taxed beyond what nature 
 can endure. 
 
 Thus I found myself at Zeerust, Marico, Trans- 
 vaal, where neither money nor promises could find 
 me a companion or servant in my dangerous under- 
 taking. Disheartened, almost driven desperate with 
 continued worry, I betook myself to the mission 
 station of Linikani, the residence of my dear and 
 tried friend. Captain Jansen, once skipper of a goodly 
 Danish barque, but now Lutheran minister of that 
 lonely spot. 
 
 One thing I well knew, that if he was unable to 
 aid me, no one else could, and that as long as there 
 was a chance to succour me, he would not leave a 
 stone unturned to do it. 
 
 In my varied and extended travels over the globe, 
 I have never met more sincere and devoted friends 
 than the countrymen of our well-beloved Princess 
 of Wales. Reader, you may yet travel, and if you 
 
SPEAK OF A MAN AS YOU FIND HIM. 5 
 
 lo, and come in contact with them, I feel convinced 
 ^ou will indorse what I have just said. 
 
 Pray pardon my digression. Even Captain Jansen 
 found his task much more difficult than anticipated ; 
 but on the second evening he informed me that he 
 could procure a man, one who spoke English, under- 
 stood horses and firearms, the latter particularly 
 well, possibly a little too well. 
 
 '' What do you mean, my friend ? " 
 
 '* Just what I say, possibly a little too well," 
 Captain Jansen replied. 
 
 '' Explain, pray do." 
 
 '* Well, then, I will," he answered. ** This 
 fellow, if report speaks true, has the blood of more 
 than one white man on his hands. I have only 
 known him for a few years, and since he has been 
 with my people he has behaved himself; but every 
 one dislikes him ; more, all fear him. No, you 
 must not think of taking him ; I regret now that 
 he was mentioned." 
 
 " But I have no choice ; either I must secure him 
 or I fail. The devil, you know, is not always as black 
 as he is painted. Pray send for him to-night, so 
 that I can speak with him in the morning, my 
 friend. I will hear no refusal ; I will take all risks ; 
 so send for him, let me beg of you." 
 
 At sunrise my future follower was in attendance. 
 Our interview was brief. Providence had certainly 
 favoured me if I could gain this man's affection, for 
 
6 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 he knew every road and every hamlet for hundreds 
 of miles to the north, spoke every dialect of the 
 Bechuana tribe, understood horses and rode well, 
 and was without his equal in the country as a hunter 
 of both large and small game. 
 
 At the hour of my departure, the chief attended 
 to bid us '* God speed," when I took the oppor- 
 tunity to tell my new attendant, in his presence, what 
 I had heard of his former career ; adding that, as he 
 carried my rifle, he would have abundant chances to 
 shoot me, but if he missed, I should most assuredly 
 kill him with my revolver. 
 
 At this threat the Hottentot only grinned ; but 
 his chief, E'Calapin, then addressed him and told 
 him, that should harm befall me, his life should pay 
 the penalty, wherever he should secrete himself on 
 the south side of the Zambesi. 
 
 Although I had spoken thus explicitly, possibly 
 harshly, I did not dislike this man's appearance, and 
 certainly did not fear him. Thus, before we had been 
 a couple of hours in the saddle, we were riding side 
 by side, chatting as familiarly as if we had been 
 acquaintances of years instead of a few hours. 
 
 Let me describe ' Cigar, for this was his English 
 name. He was about five feet six inches in height, 
 sparely built, and of a dark coffee-colour complexion. 
 His head was as round as a bullet, its spherical 
 perfection only being interfered with by the height 
 of his cheek bones. The adornment on the top of 
 
I 
 
 PROPER PRIDE. 
 
 is head was rusty black-brown wool, as close and 
 curly as the coat of a water-spaniel. Judging from 
 
 is looks, in age he might have been anywhere 
 between thirty-five and seventy years. From cir- 
 cumstances he narrated to me, and incidents he 
 remembered, I ultimately concluded that he was 
 about fifty-five years old. 
 
 Poor Cigar, it was not long before I learned his 
 value! The adage of ''give a dog a bad name" 
 was truly verified in him. I was the first white 
 man that had treated him with kindness and con- 
 sideration, and I firmly believe that from the 
 moment he was aware that I was disposed to do so, 
 he would have given his life for mine, or fought 
 against any odds for my protection. 
 
 Many, I dare say, think that it is absurd to 
 believe that a black man has pride — proper pride, 
 of course, I mean. Well, take my word for it, they 
 have, and are quite as sensitive of affront, slight, or 
 injustice, as any white man can be. Moreover, 
 their cool, daring courage is extraordinary. The 
 following chapters satisfactorily prove this, as they 
 are episodes of his life. 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 ONE OF cigar's ADVENTURES HUNTpP BY BABOONS. 
 
 ** To the west of Pitsani, on the banks of the Marit- 
 sani river, now a part of Macobey's country, I 
 resided for a time. Game was then very plentiful 
 all over that part of the land ; but, unless you could 
 procure ammunition at the Rev. Mr. Moffat's, at 
 Kuruman, in this abundance you might have to 
 starve, as a black man could not obtain a bag of 
 powder or a bar of lead any nearer than the distant 
 colonial settlements, for a Boer would not then, as 
 now, part with a charge of the former or an ounce 
 of the latter to save a coloured man's life. The 
 veteran missionary well knew its value, too, but he 
 had a great love for a good leopard's skin, so I 
 determined to procure one to purchase powder with. 
 " Rocky kloofs and kopples are the favourite 
 haunt of the leopard, and you will remember that 
 for miles along the banks of the Marltsani such 
 abound. On a day that I was out looking for bok, 
 I came across the spoor of on.e of these spotted fiend 
 cats ; for, believe me, they are far more dangerous 
 
I 
 
 EXCITING ADVENTURE. 
 
 to attack than even the lion. But my necessities were 
 great, so I resolved to take the risk. Unless you 
 know the habits of the leopard, to track him In 
 cover Is no easy job, for he will not follow a path, 
 like other beasts, but dodge about from bush to 
 rock, with the hope that from the back of each 
 object he gains, he may find himself within spring- 
 ing distance of a desirable prey. Their colour, too, 
 resembles so much that of the ground that it is 
 quite possible that you may pass in close proximity 
 of one without being aware of its presence ; and if 
 you make this mistake, woe betide you, for, the 
 moment your back Is turned, the leopard will be on 
 the top of you, when, what between the assailant's 
 activity and the fearful use it makes of its teeth and 
 claws, the man may deem himself fortunate who 
 comes out of such an encounter alive. I discovered 
 that my prey had used for a place of observation 
 the back of a rock that some sand had drifted 
 against, and by the spoor and other Indications 
 noticeable on the bare ground It was evident that I 
 had no kitten to deal with, but one of the largest of 
 the race — what you Englishmen call a panther, and 
 the Boers a tigre, but leopards, panthers, and tigres 
 are all the same, to my thinking. 
 
 ''At the time this adventure occurred to me I 
 had only an old flint roer, and the odds were always 
 about even whether It would go off or not ; in fact, 
 I think the odds were rather the other way, for 
 
lo DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT, 
 
 often, in spite of fresh priming and repeated ham- 
 mering of the flint, I have pulled the trigger several 
 times without the old piece exploding ; but game 
 was plentiful then, and had not been scared by 
 long-range shots being fired at it. 
 
 ''Well, I followed the cat's spoor from stone 
 to bush, and from stump to tree, as silently and 
 cautiously as if my life depended upon my success, 
 keeping my ears and eyes ever alert for the 
 slightest sound or movement. 
 
 '* It is my belief that there is nothing living that 
 can secrete itself or move so silently as a leopard, 
 if you except a snake. The wind, too, was in my 
 favour, although this is not so much to be wondered 
 at, for the flesh-eating beasts always hunt up it. 
 But for this instinct they would seldom be able to 
 provide themselves with a feed, for a bok can smell 
 them nearly half a mile off, if they are to windward, 
 and so well do all the cats know this, that they will 
 go round a mile or more to get the breeze in the 
 proper direction before attempting an approach to 
 their prey. The chase was a long one, and terribly 
 trying to my patience ; but, then, the reward was no 
 less than a trade bag of gunpowder, at that time a 
 small fortune to me. 
 
 ** In time the spoor left the flat veldt and led 
 into the rocky kloof adjoining, where tracking natu- 
 rally would be much more difficult and dangerous ; 
 but J was saved the greater part of this work rather 
 
BABOONS. II 
 
 ^unexpectedly, for a pack of baboons had spied their 
 :nemy the leopard while stealing through the rocks, 
 and were now following him at safe distance, giving 
 vent to their rage and hatred like a pack of wild 
 dogs after a koodoo. The beast the baboons were 
 hunting was, I knew, the animal I was pursuing ; 
 and the distance the sound of their voices was off 
 convinced me that the leopard must be at least two 
 hundred yards or more ahead. With all speed I 
 made for an elevated rock, from which I expected 
 to obtain a good view down the kloof. In this I 
 was not disappointed ; for, immediately in front of 
 me, ascending the opposite side of the ravine, was 
 the leopard, slowly and savagely making his way, 
 incessantly casting his eyes to the right and left, 
 with the hope of finding one of his pursuers within 
 springing distance. But no such luck was in store 
 for him. The baboons, when they see this, their 
 greatest enemy, do not often afford a chance of being 
 caught. 
 
 " At length the leopard entered a cleft in the 
 rocks, which I knew to be his den, for the moment 
 he did so every member of the troop that had 
 pursued him hurried off for a safer locality. It is a 
 strange thing that these wise beasts always do so. 
 They must have some fancy, I think, that if their 
 foe is out of their sight, he is contemplating some 
 mischief against them that may be successful. 
 
 " The bavians (Boer for baboon) had served me 
 
12 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 a good purpose by pointing out the retreat of the 
 leopard, which I at once took advantage of by 
 selecting a place of observation within easy range of 
 the ledge on which the cave opened, and which 
 ledge, by the way, was covered with bones of every 
 conceivable animal from the size of a rock-rabbit to 
 that of a klip-springer. 
 
 " As the day was early and cool, I resolved to 
 wait till my foe came forth, which he was certain 
 to do as soon as the sun had got higher up in the 
 sky, for no animal loves to sun itself as much or 
 more protractedly. 
 
 " A -^black man has more patience in hunting 
 than a white man. I believe the reason of this is 
 that the former more often depends upon his 
 success for his dinner ; and again, a Kaffir's arms 
 and ammunition are not so good, so that they 
 seldom shoot till their game is within easy range. 
 
 " The place I had selected was eminently suited 
 for the purpose, a flat detached rock, with sufficient 
 soil upon it to support a few dwarf straggling 
 bushes, through which I could see without being 
 seen, while the distance of its situation was less 
 than twenty paces from where the cat would be at 
 the time I fired at it. 
 
 "So far well, and all seemed disposed to con- 
 tinue so, if it had not been for the blamed bavians, 
 which, having espied me, commenced to make such 
 a disturbance as would have raised the dead. To 
 
I 
 
 A STEADY SHOT, 13 
 
 threaten or throw stones at the black-faced imps 
 was, I knew, useless ; to remain still and take no 
 notice of them was even a more dangerous course ; 
 for such conduct, I was aware, they would construe 
 into fear ; and once they got such a fad in their 
 heads, there was no knowing to what lengths their 
 audacity would lead them, for there is much in 
 common between baboons and other folks ; thus I 
 scarcely knew what course to follow next. Angry ; 
 yes, I was nearly beside myself with rage, and but 
 for the scarcity of ammunition, would have given 
 one of the grinning, chattering devils a bullet. But 
 the very row I was making such a fuss about turned 
 out to be of all things the most to my advantage, 
 for the leopard, hearing the disturbance outside, and 
 possibly supposing it was a bok, or other desirable 
 prey that had caused the wrath of the apes to be 
 raised, came forth from her den — for it was a female, 
 accompanied by two cubs, about twelve weeks old. 
 The appearance of the mother and children was 
 enough for my tormentors ; with one accord they 
 forsook me and directed their attention to them ; 
 but little the old lady cared about this, for, with 
 a yawn or two, and several stretches, she extended 
 herself at length upon her side, that the young ones 
 might the better enjoy their natural food. 
 
 '' Such a chance was not to be neglected ; with a 
 long steady aim I covered her heart, pressed the 
 trigger, and the beast rolled over on her back dead. 
 
14 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 the young ones making off into the cave, while the 
 baboons scuttled up the rocks, chattering as if their 
 very existence depended upon the amount of dis- 
 turbance they made. 
 
 " To reach the ledge and examine my prize was 
 not the work of many minutes ; but the skin was a 
 poor one, as invariably is the case when an animal 
 is in milk. However, I soon had it off and rolled 
 into a pack, and the carcass kicked into the ravine ; 
 then I commenced to consider how I was to get 
 possession of the cubs. Small as they were, I knew 
 this to be no easy matter ; but they were valuable, 
 and their capture would be much more than ample 
 remuneration for the disappointment I had suffered 
 from their mother's hide being so inferior. 
 
 ** The Interior of the cave was nearly as dark as 
 night, and although low In the roof it was smooth 
 on the floor, with a thick covering of sand ; so, on 
 my stomach sometimes, at others on my hands and 
 knees, I soon reached what I concluded was the 
 end ; where, after groping about for some minutes, I 
 touched a soft, hairy substance, which immediately 
 spat and hissed so viciously and malignantly that I 
 had little doubt of the identity of the creature. 
 With considerable trouble, and not without sundry 
 scratches and bites, I secured it and brought It into 
 daylight ; where, with the aid of a rheimkey, I 
 secured it in my kaross. 
 
 ''When about to again enter the cave, It sud- 
 
I 
 
 A TERRIBLE STRUGGLE. 15 
 
 I 
 
 denly struck me that if the father should return to 
 is family and discover me engaged in rifling his 
 home, I should find myself in an ugly fix, especially 
 without my musket. True, the weapon was an 
 awkward thing to take into such a confined place ; 
 still, for all that, I did it ; and fortunate it was that I 
 me to this resolve, as after-circumstances will show. 
 *' Encumbered with my gun, my progress to 
 he end of the den was much slower than formerly, 
 and then it took me quite half an hour before I 
 could find the crack into which the little devil had 
 squeezed itself ; and so deep had it gone into it that, 
 far as I could reach my arm, I could only get hold 
 of the kitten's tail. At length, by poking it with 
 the ramrod, I forced it to change its position, which 
 enabled me to grasp a leg, and thus draw the prize 
 forth. To master the first kitten was not done 
 without trouble, but this one had twice the strength 
 and activity of its predecessor. Moreover, the little 
 fiend screamed as if he had the powers of maturity ; 
 but all was of no avail. I succeeded in tying its 
 feet, and was placing a gag of rheim across its 
 mouth, when, instantaneously as thought, the trifling 
 light failed me, and all within was impenetrable 
 darkness. Full well I knew that there could be 
 but one cause for this, and how I blessed the happy 
 thought that made me bring with me my gun. 
 Serious as my position was, I had no fear, although 
 I knew that the fight must terminate in the death 
 
i6 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT 
 
 of one or both of us ; yet I almost think, if I had 
 had my choice, I would neither have postponed nor 
 refused the conflict. 
 
 '' Further, here was a skin worth having, which, 
 with the cubs, would purchase me ammunition to 
 last a year ; and this meant abundance, comfort, 
 and rest. You that always possess these things will 
 never know their value till they are lost to you. 
 
 " Though deprived of the light, it was easy know- 
 ing where my foe was, for his eyes glowed like balls 
 of fire, gradually increasing in size and intensity as 
 the brute approached me. One thing was in my 
 favour, so much so that afterwards I thought that 
 to it I owed my life — namely, that the roof was so 
 low that the leopard could not dash in upon me 
 with a spring, but had to advance slowly, as his 
 body was of necessity stretched out to its full length. 
 
 '' It was truly an anxious moment while I took 
 aim, for how much depended on the priming not 
 having been spilt from the pan, or upon the flint 
 striking sufficient fire to kindle it, and last, but not 
 least, on my taking a correct aim. But the report 
 answered the pressure of the trigger, and if darkness 
 had reigned before, it appeared additionally intense 
 from the body of smoke that immediately after sur- 
 rounded me. As a proof that the bullet had done 
 its work, I had not been attacked. Still, from the 
 struggling that took place in front of me, it was 
 clearly evident that it had not deprived my foe of 
 
STAKING LIFE ON A DIE. 17 
 
 life, and a wounded leopard is without question the 
 most dangerous of the wild beasts to be encountered 
 in my country. Such is the opinion of those who 
 have had to deal with them in the open ; what, 
 then, could be said of an encounter with one when 
 you are actually caged with it in the same cave ? 
 The first duty of a hunter after he has fired is to 
 reload his gun. I endeavoured to do so, but from 
 my constrained position the process was slow. How- 
 ever, at length I got the ball home ; the ramrod I 
 dropped to expedite the priming, which was not an 
 easy task in the darkness. Doubtless I hurried, 
 and as doubtlessly spilt a large quantity of my 
 valuable powder in the task ; but my ears told me 
 that the wounded beast was struggling towards me, 
 and that little or no distance now separated us. So 
 I shoved forward my musket to fire. With its 
 muzzle I felt assured I touched the object of my 
 aim. I increased the pressure, and found the re- 
 sistance sufficiently strong to know that it was some 
 important part of the foe's body it was in contact 
 with. So I again pressed the trigger, and in a few 
 moments after all was still. I drew a deep breath 
 of thankfulness, and no wonder. I had played a 
 game in which my life was the stake, although all 
 the odds were against me ; and I had won. 
 
 *' So close was my trophy wedged in the passage 
 in front of me, that it was not without great labour 
 I passed over it and gained the outlet, but even 
 
 c 
 
1 8 BAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 here my task was not ended, for it took me an 
 hour or more before I could draw forth the carcass, 
 and this I never would have accomplished but for 
 the aid rendered me by rheims made from the hide 
 of the female. 
 
 *' Not till then could I learn where my shots 
 had taken effect. The first had completely smashed 
 to pulp the lower jaw of my assailant, the last had 
 entered the centre of its chest and passed along the 
 spine to near the root of the tail, where it had lodged. 
 
 "• The skin, but for these external injuries, was 
 perfect, of unusual size, and in prime condition. 
 I was fortunate also in disposing of it and the 
 cubs ; for at Kuruman I found a party of English 
 gentlemen, returning from a hunting expedition in 
 the Limpopo district, who paid me nearly fifty 
 dollars in trade and cash for the lot, as well as a 
 new gun for guiding them and driving one of their 
 waggons to Hopetown." 
 
 So ends an adventure of Cigar's ; and fortunately 
 it is no longer, for the waggons are at their out- 
 span, and already some of the cattle are belly-deep 
 in the vleys, when every dog suddenly discovers he 
 has a voice, and forthwith uses it, the reason being 
 that the pack have got a large cat brought to bay 
 in a fallen mimosa tree. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 UNCERTAIN SHOOTING AN EXCITING EXPERIENCE. 
 
 Poor pussy, he had not much chance for his Hfe 
 with such a clamorous pack around him, assisted by 
 several natives armed with knobkerries ; however, 
 he effected a resolute resistance for a few minutes, 
 and in that short time made several of the curs sing 
 out ** blue murder!" But a pawky bushman stole 
 upon the persecuted cat, and in an unguarded 
 moment laid him low with a crack upon the head. 
 That night I was restless and indisposed to sleep, 
 so I set a couple of my people to take the hide off 
 the carcass, while I blocked out some yoke-keys. 
 It was truly marvellous how rapidly the darkies did 
 their skinning, and how perfectly they performed 
 the operation, with no other implement than the 
 blade of an assegai. The pelt was a splendid one, 
 of deepest rufous colour along the back, gradually 
 changing to a reddish grey as the lower parts of the 
 flanks were approached, while the head had that 
 distinctive lyre-shaped marking above and between 
 the eyes, characteristic of this species, most beauti- 
 
20 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 fully defined ; orange and white blotches, about the 
 size of -a lady's finger-point, are also to be found 
 upon this animars cheeks, which, far from looking 
 out of place, give a most finished appearance to its 
 tout ensemble. 
 
 I have only- rriet the bay cat i^Felis auratci) 
 once before in Africa,'and it occurred to the north 
 and east of Walwich Bay. It was a larger specimen 
 than that just killed, but in nothing like such good 
 condition. Although these animals are scarce in 
 the^locality in which I am at present hunting, they 
 are very common in the heavy-timbered lands north 
 of the Portuguese settlement of St. Paul de Loanda, 
 where they are said to commit considerable damage 
 among the native children, their choice selection 
 being little girls of tender years. Thus this animal 
 not '6nly~ is" a rhan-eater, but an epicure. Whether 
 this failing be true or not, I cannot say ; but if it be 
 remembered how the native women leave their off- 
 spring lying about while they are working in the 
 fields, great temptations are certainly thrown in this 
 beast's way. As to the cat's choice of little girls, 
 I suppose they might be more toothsome than boys ; 
 but, in my belief, this is not the cause of their being 
 selected, but, froni their squalling more than the 
 other sex when deposited under a bush by their 
 unnatural parents, they more attract the attention 
 of a prowler to their vicinity. Certain it is, if this 
 animal is so disposed, it could easily carry off a 
 

I 
 
 MAKING A YOKE- KEY, 21 
 
 piccaninnie, for Its average height, at the shoulder, 
 js about twenty-two inches. 
 
 Near midnight, for the moon proclaimed it to be 
 about that hour, a sound resembling the charge of 
 a troop of cavalry struck upon my ear. At first I 
 thought the noise might be caused by a party of 
 marauding natives out on a filibustering expedition ; 
 for, at the time I write of, there were numbers of 
 both black and white freebooters ravaging the 
 country. So, naturally, I laid hold of the nearest 
 gun, a double lo-bore, and stretched myself full 
 length between the waggon wheels to wait results. 
 Fortunately, I was disappointed in my suspicion, the 
 row being caused by a dozen or more of Burchell's 
 zebras and velde-beests on their way to the vley. 
 My temper, I suppose, was somewhat ruffled at 
 the contreiempSy Aor I fired both barrels into the 
 brown of them, to pick out a single Individual, in 
 the uncertainty of the light, being Impossible. I 
 feared I had done mischief, for an ominous thud 
 answered the report, so trusted the victim would 
 not go off wounded, to suffer a lingering death. 
 Daylight would tell the tale, so till then I employed 
 myself finishing the yoke-key, which, when made 
 out of hard wood — and any others are almost useless 
 — requires some patience and sharp tools to do pro- 
 perly ; so I will tell you, kind reader, just to while 
 away time, something more of my old friend and 
 late companion, the redoubtable Cigar. 
 
22 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT 
 
 Of hunting stones, as may be imagined, Cigar 
 had an inexhaustible supply, so I will endeavour to 
 narrate one of them in -which we both played a part ; 
 but, on paper, his individual share must fall far 
 short of the graphic and intense force with which 
 he told it to me when sitting round the brilliant, 
 yet fitful, camp-fire on a dark night, the narration 
 not unfrequently interrupted by the deep, resonant 
 voice of the lion, the wail of the sneaking, cowardly 
 hyaena, the shrill whistle of the quagga, or the 
 merry, tittering, laugh-like call of the jackal. So I 
 will recount it in my own language. 
 
 One such a night I can well remember. We had 
 been travelling all day through the dense thorn 
 bush that lies between Pilan and the north side of 
 the Crocodile river; but, an hour before sundown, 
 we came out of the prickly scrub into a most magni- 
 ficent stretch of veldt, here and there broken by 
 small clumps of trees. Zebras, hartebeeste, and 
 sassabis were abundant in every direction, a well- 
 known indication that the lord of the forest was not 
 far distant. Towards the river, on the low grounds, 
 innumerable cranes fed in thousands, intermixed with 
 lovely rose-coloured flamingoes, while aloft floated, 
 on almost motionless pinions, uncountable vultures. 
 
 It was one of those spectacles alone to be seen 
 in Africa, alike charming to the eyes of the natu- 
 ralist, lover of nature, and the devotee of field sports. 
 
 Our horses had passed a hard day, for we had 
 
I 
 
 AN ADVENTURE. 23 
 
 travelled fast in the morning-, as, from the un- 
 friendly reception our hosts had subtended us the 
 previous night, we were not without suspicion that 
 Pilan's chief was hostile, and that some of his 
 young men might follow, with instructions to despoil 
 myself and Cigar of our arms and horses should 
 opportunity offer. But now we had no reason to 
 fear such a contretemps, for over forty miles lay 
 between us and Pilan's kraal, and as he was at war 
 with an adjoining tribe (Sechilles people), nothing 
 less than a large and well-armed party would pre- 
 sume to come thus far into the enemy's country. 
 
 So, in a beautiful tope of half a dozen trees, we 
 off saddled, knee-haltered our horses, and turned 
 them loose to feed, while Cigar stole off with the 
 rifle to see what food he could procure for our 
 evening meal. 
 
 Having lit a fire, and made the camp as comfort- 
 able and home-like as possible, I heard a shot some 
 distance beyond the horses. Deeming the report 
 to have come from my attendant's gun, I thought 
 nothing of the matter for a few moments, but when 
 I raised my head I saw all the nags had got to- 
 gether, and looked as if uncertain whether some- 
 thing dangerous had not approached their neigh- 
 bourhood. 
 
 My animals, from their residence in the wild 
 country, had become as watchful as dogs, but still 
 were far from alarmists, so I proceeded to drive 
 
24 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 them In. While doing so, I disturbed a splendid 
 lioness, who only waited for a moment to survey 
 me, and then bounded off, not taking many seconds 
 to get out of sight. As I had no weapon but a 
 revolver, I was gratefully pleased that our inter- 
 view was of such short duration. 
 
 Having got to windward of the nags, I was 
 rapidly herding them to the fire, when I heard a 
 second rifle report, and, as far as I could judge, it 
 came from the immediate proximity of the first. 
 Darkness was now corping on rapidly, so I began to 
 be anxious for my man's return ; but I was not long 
 kept waiting, for, ere the second watchfire had been 
 lighted by me, the absent one walked into camp. 
 
 With a laugh, he threw 9- steinbok and a dark 
 tuft of tawny hair pn the ground. I picked up the 
 latter, and exclaimed, '' Tao ! " (Bechuana for lion). 
 " Yes, tao," he said, and, without more conversation, 
 we commenced our feed of tough, and certainly 
 not very savoury, venison. 
 
 But food invariably loosens the tongue, so when 
 we had eaten sufficient and made up the fires for the 
 night. Cigar narrated the adventure of the last hour. 
 
 Immediately after leaving me he found a stein- 
 bok; but the little antelope was so wary and cunning 
 that he could not get a shot at it, so from clump to 
 clump of grass or brush he followed it for nearly 
 half an hour. At length he was about to give up 
 the chase, when he altered his opinion, for the bok 
 
■ 
 
 WHAT CIGAR DID. 25 
 
 Stopped suddenly, and appeared to squat; so, 
 moving a little to one side, the better to assist his 
 view, what was his surprise to see, instead of this 
 small representative of the antelope family, a large 
 male lion, which had evidently been watching our 
 horses — at that time scarcely two hundred yards 
 from him — when the steinbok had run against his 
 majesty and paid with his life for his temerity. 
 
 So occupied was the lion with his capture, that 
 he did not perceive that he in turn was overlooked ; 
 so, affording an easy shot to my follower at very 
 short range, yielded up his life no doubt quite as 
 rapidly as his late prey had done. 
 
 Thus my man, at one shot, killed a lion and 
 bagged an antelope. The second shot he had fired 
 was at the lioness, at about a hundred yards off. '' I 
 think I hit her," he said, and I believe he had ; for, 
 contrary to the habit of the majority of white sports- 
 men, whenever he makes such an assertion I have 
 found him to be speaking the truth. 
 L As the night advanced, and as it continued 
 mtensely dark, we determined to remain awake till 
 the moon rose, more especially as the horses were 
 most restless, and on more than one occasion we 
 had heard a deep, muttered growl, that clearly told 
 that '* ne'er-do-wells" and night prowlers were abroad. 
 
 So fresh fuel was pushed into the fires, and 
 Cigar, between the puffs of his charred, worn-out 
 pipe, told me a tale of his younger days. 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 A MAN-EATING LION — A DANGEROUS EPISODE. 
 
 " In Griqualand West, near where the village of 
 Bootsop now stands, I was hunting ostriches — not 
 that I would have stopped to consider long whether 
 I would or would not fire at gembok or hartebeeste, 
 if one had come within range. This was some years 
 before the discovery of diamonds on the Vaal river, 
 so that few white men had then visited that district, 
 with the exception of an occasional missionary on 
 his way to Kuruman. Fire-arms were then very 
 scarce — in fact, they were unneeded, for game 
 was plentiful ; so much so, that the little Bushmen 
 could obtain what they wanted with no other 
 weapons than bows and arrows. In the afternoon 
 I stopped at a kraal of Damaras, the chief of which 
 told me that he had seen several impsi (Bechuana, 
 ostrich) in an adjoining kloof. Few* it I started, and 
 found the birds, but the old musket or the powder 
 would not shoot straight, so by the time I came 
 down to my last charge I had not killed a single 
 bird. Being determined to make certain with my 
 last shot, I stalked for several hundred yards a 
 
I 
 
 A HAIRBREADTH ESCAPE. 
 
 w 
 
 splendid cock, but for the life of me I could not get 
 close to him. Still the bird was not so frightened 
 as not to feed, but kept walking up wind. I felt 
 certain he had neither seen, nor winded me, but if 
 not frightened by me, what had alarmed him ? 
 omething, for ostriches are not in the habit of 
 being so restless unless there is reason for it. At a 
 bend in the kloof the bird disappeared, after taking 
 a cautious survey of the surroundings, which it did 
 so slowly and leisurely that I was about to make a 
 run forward with the hope of getting within easy 
 range, when, by the merest chance, I looked behind 
 me, and, to my surprise, well, I may say horror, I 
 saw that a large lion was not over seventy yards 
 behind me, and evidently stalking me as carefully as 
 I had been stalking the bird. 
 
 " From childhood I had been brought up among 
 the wild beasts, and knew their ways as well as I 
 did those of my own people or my childhood s play- 
 fellows ; so I resolved to pretend not to be aware of 
 the presence of my pursuer, although its conduct 
 told me distinctly that it meditated mischief, and, 
 worse than all, I had only one charge of ammunition 
 remaining, and that but a very light one. 
 
 " If I could have gained a tree I would certainly 
 have ascended it ; but none was near. To make a 
 run for it would certainly have brought the lion 
 upon me at once, so that was not to be thought of. 
 Thus, pretending that I was still in pursuit of some- 
 
28 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 thing, I struck a course for a crantz that promised to 
 afford me a chance of shelter. Keeping along the 
 edge of the kloof, I found just such a place as 
 desired — a drop of four feet to a ledge thirty or 
 forty inches wide, and afterwards an almost perpen- 
 dicular descent of fifty or sixty feet, terminating in a 
 quantity of broken boulders and jagged stone, rough 
 enough in all conscience to break the legs of a 
 baboon or klip-springer, if either should fall upon 
 them from above. 
 
 *' With as little appearance of alarm as I could 
 assume, I sat down on the edge of the precipice and 
 smoked my pipe, ever and anon taking a sly, but 
 careful glance behind to see where my foe was. 
 
 " He evidently was an artful old scoundrel, but I 
 was determined to be his equal in cunning. 
 
 ** About twenty rods behind me were a few 
 ragged bushes, growing amxong some scattered 
 stones ; behind these the lion had taken shelter, and 
 was keeping a most careful survey upon all my 
 actions. Nearer to me were some more boulders, 
 small and detached ; still, sufficiently large to afford 
 the brute shelter before he made the final spring. 
 
 " You will see by this that I had calculated to a 
 nicety what would be the plan of assault followed by 
 my pursuer ; at the same time, I felt convinced that 
 the lion, feeling certain that I could not escape him, 
 would defer his final proceedings till dusk. 
 
 " Afraid I was not ! I could not afford to be so ; 
 
AN ARTFUL TRICK. 29 
 
 Iut nervous I certainly was. Still, my mind and 
 rain were clear and ready for action as ever they 
 were, or ever will be. 
 
 " The sun had gone down some minutes, and 
 darkness was rapidly setting in, when I slipped from 
 my seat on to the ledge ; in a moment after I took off 
 my hunting coat and hung it on the muzzle of my 
 musket, then placed the ramrod through the sleeves, 
 so as to keep it in very much the same shape as it 
 would have been on my back. Having regulated 
 these details, I shoved the whole thing over the 
 upper ledge where I had so lately been sitting. 
 
 '' The lion was hungry and impatient, for scarcely 
 was this done when my coat was torn away and my 
 gun and ramrod hurled into the bottom of the kloof. 
 But they did not go alone. No ; my assailant was 
 with them, and there he remained all night, either 
 grumbling over a broken leg, or his disappointment 
 at not having me for supper. 
 
 '* A colder night I never passed in my life, but 
 endure it and make the best of it I had to. In the 
 morning, however, I had my reward; for I found the 
 lion with one of his forelegs smashed at the shoulder, 
 and otherwise so injured that he could scarcely 
 crawl. The old musket was but little hurt by its 
 fall, little enough, at least, not to prevent it going 
 off, and in doing so place a bullet in my late 
 antagonist's brain, when its muzzle was not above a 
 yard from his head. 
 
30 
 
 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 ** This was a very old lion, and his hide was 
 scarcely worth the charge that killed him, but it is 
 always these aged wretches, brutes worn out in 
 body by the accumulation of years, and soured in 
 temper by disappointments, that take to man-eating ; 
 the reason being that they have not the patience or 
 agility to stalk with success the suspicious and wary 
 wild game, so, to avoid starvation, prey upon the 
 most helpless of all animals — man." 
 
 VULTURES. 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 A BUCK-JUMPER FIGHT WITH A ZEBRA. 
 
 The lateness of the hour at which I retired to rest 
 prevented me leaving my bed till the sun was at 
 least an hour high. The cattle had already been 
 driven off to pasture, and the horse coolie was about 
 to do the same with the nags, when I ordered him 
 to leave the bay behind, as I intended taking a 
 gallop, if for no other purpose than to see what 
 quantity and variety of game was knocking about 
 this vicinity. 
 
 The camp fire had been allowed to burn low, so 
 that it required some patience to make the kettle 
 boil, thus I was delayed in obtaining my cup of 
 coffee ; but while I waited, I observed that numerous 
 vultures were hovering over some object nearly a 
 mile to windward, while numbers of the same species 
 of bird were hurrying on rapid pinions in the same 
 direction. *' Carrion is there of some sort, and not 
 impossibly that of one of the beasts I shot at last 
 night," thought I ; so I resolved to go in that 
 direction as soon as I had partaken of my morning 
 repast. Younger and more ardent men probably 
 
32 BAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 would not have delayed investigating the cause of 
 the assembly of these flesh-eating birds ; but I did, 
 for the reason that I believe nothing is so conducive 
 to fever and disarrangement of your system, as 
 exposing yourself to the rays of the sun on an 
 empty stomach. 
 
 My bay horse was now in splendid fettle, hard 
 as nails, and no more flesh on his bones than was 
 actually necessary. For some time he had had 
 nothing to do but follow the waggons and satisfy his 
 appetite ; so it is scarcely to be wondered at, that, 
 when I prepared to mount, he indicated an unusual 
 amount of impatience to be off. This I expected, 
 and to a certain extent was prepared for ; but the 
 rogue played me another trick which I had not 
 entered in the programme, viz. giving a succession 
 of buck-jumps before I had got my off foot in the 
 stirrup-iron. Fortunately I had not relieved my 
 attendant of my rifle, and further was I lucky in 
 having a good hold of his head, or I believe he 
 would have given me ''a clean coup," as a Scotch 
 groom of a friend of mine expressed himself when 
 telling his master that he had been thrown. How- 
 ever, the stirrup-iron comes to the foot or the foot 
 goes to the iron. Which is it, I would ask the 
 veterans who read this ? for it is hard for me to say ; 
 for the action is intuitive. When once I was well 
 down in the saddle, and had got both feet home, 
 a good sharp three-quarters of a mile soon settled 
 
I 
 
 A WOUNDED ZEBRA. 33 
 
 all differences, and explained to each which was 
 master and which was servant. 
 
 As I anticipated getting meat, I had several 
 natives of the Bakalihari tribe with me — lean-looking 
 fellows, with the appetites and capacity of stowage 
 of boa constrictors. Spooring was not necessary, 
 for we had but to find the vortex of the circle 
 described by the birds in the air, to find the prey ; 
 but, long before we had done so, we discovered 
 where the game lay by the audience of corbovans 
 and vultures that surrounded a trifling indentation 
 of the ground a few hundred yards to our front. 
 This congregation was remarkable for its numbers 
 and solemnity. If they had been human beings 
 instead of birds, and the scene transferred to a part 
 of the Highlands of Scotland, they would have 
 delighted the heart of an old minister I ken of, 
 belonging to a kirk not yet disestablished. 
 
 It was a matter of surprise to me that among 
 the number of these interested beings some one had 
 not taken upon himself the task of saying grace, 
 and thus removed the final obstacle that prevented 
 the commencement of the feast ; but the time had 
 not arrived for this important ceremony to be per- 
 formed, for the victim was not yet at death's door, 
 although so grievously wounded that it could not 
 travel further. As I approached the petsi (Sichuana 
 for Burchell's zebra, the same name being also fre- 
 quently applied in this country to a horse), the poor 
 
 D 
 
34 BAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT, 
 
 creature became at. once conscious of the vicinity 
 of enemies, but its strength :.w.ould.' riot; allow it to 
 rise, although inany: and: fiurnerbus" were the efforts 
 it/-made to do- so;- -Mt^' was: ai'cruel 'sight to look 
 at, the -noble,- fleet,:graG€fui-a;nd beautifully marked 
 creature: thtis ^"di'^bled; ' and; 'I am ; not: ashamed to 
 say that- 1 felt -grieved at tJie ipart 1; had played in 
 making it so. The deed! 'had conirnitted could 
 not^now be undone,^and to put the victim as soon 
 .as'"possible^out: of' pain, was a duty, so I ordered 
 my attendants- "to come up, that they might deliver 
 \S\^2oup- de-grace.-: In. a few minutes they did so. 
 <No encouragement .was necessary for them to finish 
 the task- T had comrhehced; for as ^ soon as they saw 
 the_ struggling petsi, it was a. race of all who should 
 be-first-atvthe-stene: of carriage, ' and who should 
 firstrdip Ith^- blade .'of- his assegai in. the victims 
 blood. < The: drama :was "soon vended ;; two or three 
 violent struggles, . a half-suppressed, : painful neigh 
 of pain; a: tremulous motion of the limbs and car- 
 case, janidlall'. was OA^ei*. :. I: had time now to examine 
 .our:,prize. : :She' was a 'young :mare, a picture of 
 .health, and condition, beautifully; marked and in 
 perfect coat. In height she .was : a trifle under 
 fourteen - hands, yet her limbs, had the muscle and 
 bone of a hbrne-bred hunter up: to. twelve or thirteen 
 stone. J| 
 
 I insisted upon the hide being carefully removed, 
 for it was especially valuable at the present time, 
 
Ik a second victim. 35 
 
 for this reason, that, as we should soon have to 
 traverse a long extent of heavily wooded country, 
 this skin, when carefully and tautly stretched over my 
 waggon tilt, would form a perfect protection against 
 the canvas being chafed by boughs and limbs that 
 possibly might rub along it. The labour of severing 
 the flesh from the bone was going on rapidly, and 
 several loads had been despatched to the camp, 
 when my eye was attracted by one of the Bakali- 
 hari signalling to me, as if he desired my assistance. 
 Master Totty expressed an opinion that he would 
 not be surprised if the nigger had struck the spoor 
 of a lion, while his fellow tribesmen thought it more 
 probable that he had come across some fresh evi- 
 dences of gemsbok ; so, as I wished to kill one of 
 the latter, we crossed over the veldt to learn further 
 particulars. However, we were all^ to a certain 
 extent, sold, for the Bakalihari had nothing to show 
 us but fresh spoor of Burchell's zebras. At this 
 disappointment I was about to express annoyance, 
 when I observed a certain amount of earnestness 
 manifested among my people that denoted some- 
 thing unusual in the tracks they had been examin- 
 ing. This postponed, if it did not suppress, my 
 wrath. After a deal of chattering, and several 
 differences of opinion being urged, the man who 
 called us up expressed a wish for me to follow 
 him. I did not desire to kill any more petsi, I 
 explained to the Hottentot, but he said it was 
 
36 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 another wounded one, so it could not be far off. 
 He then pointed out the spoor of the second victim, 
 told me that it had got a wounded hind leg, and that 
 we would certainly come across it in less than a mile. 
 
 This was putting a new face on the matter, so 
 off we started in pursuit ; for there is nothing so 
 reprehensible, I may say unpardonable, in a hunter, 
 I will not say sportsman, as to leave a wounded 
 animal to die a lingering death of agony, the result, 
 possibly, of want of food and water. 
 
 The spoor was not difficult to distinguish, for 
 the unfortunate had followed the steps of his com- 
 panions ; the disabled limb leaving in places quite 
 a noticeable furrow, where the tip of the hoof had 
 dragged along the ground. The pace was made so 
 fast by the Bakalihari that I had to move my horse 
 at a trot to keep on proper terms with them. At 
 their best gait, on they went, never hesitating or 
 pausing for an instant. Not a word was spoken by 
 any one ; this very silence proclaiming how absorbed 
 they were in their work, how confidently they ex- 
 pected success, and with what firmness of belief 
 they anticipated soon shedding more blood. Fiends 
 they looked, and fiends they were for the time 
 being, having thrown to the winds every other 
 thought and idea save the love of slaughter. 
 Steadily and unweariedly the pursuers kept up their 
 pace, although we had now gone more than a couple 
 of miles, they leading me by about fifty yards, more 
 
I 
 
 A NARROW ESCAPE. 37 
 
 thickly scattered brush taking the place of the 
 former veldt, when, phew ! there was the deuce to 
 pay among the natives. In a moment they had 
 
 V Battered like chaff before the wind ; and I had 
 [me to notice all that transpired, for my horse 
 ad stopped as dead as If he had been shot. The 
 wounded animal, from exhaustion and pain, had 
 been unable to keep up with his comrades, so had 
 laid down behind a bush, from where he had either 
 got wind of, or heard his pursuers advance, and, 
 determined not to give In, or die a death unworthy 
 of his race (for these animals will always fight to 
 the last), sprang to his feet, and, open-mouthed, made 
 for the nearest of the darkies, who was so taken by 
 surprise, that, forgetting he had a weapon In his 
 hand, he sprang on one side, without attempting 
 to use It — an example promptly followed by all his 
 companions. For a time the assailants became the 
 assailed, and utterly demoralized by the suddenness 
 of the attack ; but It was easy to see on whose side 
 victory would terminate, for loss of blood had sadly 
 weakened the brave beast, and one of Its hind legs 
 hung utterly useless, as if attached to his body by 
 only the skin. Yes, my fellows were taken by 
 surprise ; and their leader only escaped by a few 
 feet being made acquainted with the petsl's jaws — a 
 bite that possibly would have cost him a limb, and 
 • most certainly expatriation from his tribe : serious 
 consequences, no one will deny ; but, In spite of 
 
38 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 this, the demoralization of the hunters only lasted a 
 few moments. Without consultation their plan of 
 reprisal was formed, and all acted as promptly upon 
 it as if they had discussed the matter for hours in 
 all its bearings. Thus the most active advanced 
 and drew on himself the attack of the enraged 
 beast ; and no way loth for the encounter, it accepted 
 the gauntlet thrown down, and charged with sur- 
 prising celerity, considering it had oiily three legs, 
 when the rest of the Bakalihari closed upon the poor 
 beast's flanks and drove their assegais home and 
 home in oft-repeated, thrusts. Flesh and blood, 
 with the bravest heart to back it, could not stand 
 such treatment long ; so the gallant stallion toppled 
 over in a final effort to get at one of his 
 slaughterers, and ^ died, as he had proved himself 
 to be,^a brave beast. , 
 
 ZEBRAS. 
 

 im ill 
 
 L,/^ '_^_ »Wi 
 
 Hiia^ 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 DIFFERENT SPECIES OF ZEBRAS WEAVER-BIRDS AND 
 
 SNAKES. 
 
 Persons who have travelled upon the frontier of 
 the Cape Colony know the distinctions between the 
 quagga, Barchell's zebra, and the zebra proper; 
 but, for the benefit of those that have not visited 
 those distant possessions of her Majesty, I will do 
 my best to give them. 
 
 The quagga is found on sandy flats, the Orange 
 Free State having been at one time its favourite 
 habitat, and is still to be seen on the edge of the 
 Kalihari desert, and such adjoining districts, where 
 the surface is level, sandy, and free from stone. Its 
 hoofs, in consequence, are large, with '' the frog 
 very much let down." Its back, neck, flanks, head, 
 and mane, are alone marked with the stripes pecu- 
 liar to Its race. The tail of this animal is more 
 horse-like than that of the two other species ; 
 further, it is very fond of society, and may fre- 
 quently be observed associated with vildebeeste, 
 hartebeeste, ostriches, or even blessbok. A man 
 
40 BAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 who rides under thirteen stone, if fairly mounted, 
 should have no difficulty in riding it down. 
 
 The Burchell's zebra, or petsi, has the same 
 markings as the quagga, but they subtend further 
 down the rump, thighs, and hind-quarters, even to 
 the houghs and knees ; their feet are smaller than 
 those of the first mentioned, and are much harder 
 in their composition ; thus they will generally be 
 discovered on rugged, stony lands, but not on the 
 mountains. Their tail is more asinine than that of 
 the first-mentioned. 
 
 The zebra; proper is a thorough mountain dweller; 
 from the smallmess, cup-like shape, and hardness of 
 its hoofs, it can clamber, with immunity from injury, 
 almost where a goat can go. The shape of its tail 
 is quite asinine. The characteristic markings of the 
 family to' which it belongs are much more distinct 
 and clearly defined than in the two other species ; 
 moreover, they extend down the legs over the 
 fetlocks to the actual hoofs. In some rugged por- 
 tions of Cape Colony the zebra still exists, or did 
 a year or two ago. My friend, Mr. Hilton Barber, 
 had a drove of them on his mountain farm, about 
 twelve miles from Craddock ; but they had become 
 so wary, as well as savage, that few persons were 
 desirous of paying them a visit, unless at the season 
 when their numbers require diminishing. 
 
 Burchell's zebras have been seen in the company 
 of the zebra proper or quagga ; but I never heard 
 
m^mm 
 
PROSPECTING THE COUNTRY, 41 
 
 of the last-mentioned being known to associate with 
 the true zebra. 
 
 All of the three species have the low, thick 
 withers of the ass, and in many respects strongly 
 resemble that patient servant of man. Still, in form 
 they do not much look like one another ; the true 
 zebra being very heavily and muscularly built, the 
 quagga quite the reverse, while the petsi takes an 
 intermediate place between both. To a judge of 
 horseflesh, the limbs of all these species, particularly 
 from the knee and houghs down, must be subjects 
 of admiration, for in no other language can they be 
 described better, than by saying that they are simply 
 perfect in form for work and endurance. 
 
 The quagga, I know, can be broken to harness ; 
 the petsi, I have heard, and believe, can ; but I very 
 much doubt whether the true zebra could ever be 
 subdued or tamed sufficiently to transform it into a 
 draught animal. This is much to be regretted ; for 
 it has been gifted in no ordinary degree with three 
 great virtues — speed, endurance, and a total dis- 
 regard for variations of temperature, which are 
 very great in its habitat, at different seasons of the 
 year. 
 
 After so long a deviation from the actual work in 
 hand, I will now return to it. Having despatched 
 the remainder of the meat to camp, and the supply 
 being more than sufficient for present wants, with 
 only one attendant I made a detour of several miles 
 
42 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 to prospect the country, and so learn what game 
 was to be expected to fall to our rifles during our 
 sojourn in this neighbourhood. But I was disap- 
 pointed in my expectations ; for, although I saw 
 several gemsbok, and a couple of blue vildebeeste 
 in the society of a hartebeest, they were so wild 
 that I could not get near them. This I can only 
 account for by the belief that they had lately 
 been hunted by Boers, roving bands of whom 
 were reported to be in the neighbourhood. As I 
 had no desire to come across these freebooters, 
 and much less anxious that they should find my 
 waggons when I was absent from them, I returned to 
 camp early. Chummy came in soon after with the 
 tit-bits of a hartebeest, which he had killed some 
 miles off; so the bush people were sent off to bring 
 back what meat they could. Little, I may say, we 
 expected to see of it, for they were accompanied by 
 none of our servants, and we had resolved trecking 
 as soon as the moon rose. 
 
 The vley, on the margin of which we had out- 
 spanned, was a charming spot, had all the appear- 
 ance of being permanent, and must, at one time, 
 have been a perfect hunter's elysium. In several 
 places the trees grew at the water's edge, the termi- 
 nation of their limbs in many instances drooping 
 down within a few feet of its placid surface. When 
 this is the case, you will invariably find a pear- 
 shaped weaver-bird's (baiya) nest suspended from 
 
■ 
 
 INDIAN AND AFRICAN BIRDS. 43 
 
 Its termination. Why such a position should be 
 selected by these charming Httle feathered beauties 
 for their nursery doubtlessly is, that their progeny 
 11 there be safe from the attentions of different 
 varieties of tree snakes, the most numerous among 
 IKhlch is the Bucephalus capensis, or green tree- 
 climber. The tendrils on which these nests are 
 hung are too slim for the reptile to descend on, and 
 sufficiently elevated not to be reached by the enemy 
 from the water. The choice of such a locality for 
 incubating their eggs and rearing their delicate 
 offspring looks very much as if these ornaments 
 of creation were gifted with something approaching 
 closely to reasoning powers. Truly Nature is a 
 wonderful teacher. 
 
 As this was not the breeding season, I sent one 
 of my people, the tall Zulu, to gather a large 
 quantity of these nests ; for, from their being so 
 springy, or even elastic, they are admirably adapted 
 for placing between guns or other hard materials 
 when packed for transportation. More than that, 
 if the curly hair of the klip-springer cannot be 
 obtained, there Is no better material I know of with 
 which to stuff a horse's saddle. I am not the first 
 person, however, who has applied these nests to 
 this purpose, for I and others got the idea from 
 the mahouts, in India, who constantly use them for 
 stuffing their elephant pads. 
 
 By-the-by, recalling India to memory, reminds 
 
44 
 
 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 me that there are birds here very, very much, if not 
 exactly, resembHng the lanklat and bandani, which 
 the Hindoos assert pick the shreds of meat from 
 between the tiger's teeth, and which the Bechuanas 
 assert perform the same duty for the Hon. On first 
 hearing such strange statements, the listener is more 
 than disposed to believe that they are fabrications 
 of an inventive mind ; but when a similar story is 
 repeated thousands of miles from where the first 
 was heard, and by a people that could have no 
 communication, somehow or other you begin to 
 surmise that there must be some truth in it. After 
 all, it is not more remarkable than that a species of 
 plover picks off the leeches which adhere to the 
 crocodile's mouth — now known to be the case, 
 although Herodotus, who first gave the fact to the 
 world, was dubbed a liar for his pains. 
 
 VLEY IN THK INTRRIOR. 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 MV PET LIONS — A TERRIBLE NIGHT. 
 
 iuT, as we have some hours to wait ere the moon 
 rises, if the reader will come and rest with me inside 
 my waggon (in imagination, at least), I will tell him 
 of a late experience in " the big game country." 
 
 The majority of people have possessed pets of 
 some description or other, but few are able to say 
 that they have possessed a couple of tame lions, for 
 tame they were when I owned Leo and Juno, and 
 I can vouch that more interesting pets were never 
 the property of any individual. How I obtained 
 them I will endeavour, to the best of my ability, to 
 inform my readers. 
 
 In those happy days, now some years past, when 
 war had not broken out between the Boers of the 
 Transvaal and Great Britain, I was hunting large 
 game to the north of the Crocodile river, where the 
 country of Lubengulo, king of the Matabeles, abuts 
 on that of Kama, king of Bamangwatos. 
 
 The margin of the Crocodile river here is covered 
 with thick timber or dense masses of reeds, but as 
 
46 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 you retire a mile from the above-named water- 
 course, bush-veldt becomes the dominant feature of 
 the landscape, and was the haunt of innumerable 
 species of the larger descriptions of African ante- 
 lopes. This may well be accepted when I state that 
 from my waggon-box I have seen at break of day, 
 hartebeeste, vildebeeste, eland^ and sassabi within 
 easy rifle range of my position. Moreover, buffalo, 
 quagga (the favourite food of lions), and giraffe were 
 far from scarce in this vicinity. Thus it is not to 
 be wondered at that the king of beasts should be 
 found numerous where there was to be obtained 
 such an abundance of his natural food, especially as 
 water and shelter, two necessaries to his existence, 
 were ever close at hand. 
 
 Nightly I had heard for nearly a month the 
 deep-muttered growl or bass roar of the monarch 
 of the waste, but the weather being fine and the 
 nights clear, I had little dread of his attacking either 
 my bullocks or horses. Another protection I pos- 
 sessed against lions intruding themselves into my 
 camp, was that with me were a ,troop of dogs of 
 such excellence as had seldom been seen in an 
 African hunter's camp. Several of these hounds 
 had been imported, and great care was taken in 
 their selection that strength and courage should be 
 their sine qua non, as they were to be my com- 
 panions in a very distant and dangerous journey. 
 
 The other dogs that completed the pack had | 
 
I 
 
 RAIN-STORM. 47 
 
 been procured from the colony, and therefore had 
 considerable experience in the pursuit of the smaller 
 varieties of buck, as well as an occasional encounter 
 with some of the larger members of the cat family, 
 such as leopards, caracals, etc., for these species of 
 the carnivores still are to be found in considerable 
 abundance south of the Orange River. The morn- 
 ing previous to the occurrence of the incident to 
 which I owe the obtaining of my two pets, Leo and 
 Juno, broke with such an appearance of bad weather 
 that, by the advice of my servants, I determined to 
 shift my camping place to more elevated and, there- 
 fore, drier ground. A ridge, thickly covered with 
 mapani brush, and here and there studded with 
 meruli and mimosa trees, was selected for our new 
 encampment, and as the distance to it was not over 
 six miles, it was not deemed necessary to inspan the 
 bullocks till three hours after midday. Although 
 the weather had threatened since sunrise, the rain 
 kept off until we had completed about half our 
 journey, when, as is not unusual in tropical climates, 
 one of those downpours began that have to be 
 experienced to be appreciated. But this was not 
 all ; with the rain came thunder, and with the 
 thunder, lightning, of which it would be difficult to 
 say whether the awe-inspiring voice of the one was 
 more terrible to listen to than the sight of the 
 i brilliant, rapidly repeated flashes of the other. 
 Bullocks cannot treck with wet yokes, or their 
 
48 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 shoulders become galled ; thus I had to call a halt, 
 although no shelter was near to shield us from the 
 warring elements. I have beheld thunderstorms 
 in the Rocky Mountains, West Indies, and Malay 
 Archipelago, but never have I witnessed them so 
 terrific as in the interior of South Africa ; and I am 
 certain that in no other part of the world are they 
 so dangerous. And the whole animal creation seems 
 to be well aware of this ; for whether it be the 
 Kaffir or the ox, the elephant or the giraffe, all 
 equally appear to dread the tempest's violence, and 
 become for the time being so prostrated with fear 
 as to remain awe-stricken in the locality where they 
 have been overtaken, without one thought of seek- 
 ing shelter. Having upwards of a couple of hun- 
 dred-weight of gunpowder in my waggon, to have 
 it struck by the electric fluid would have been 
 certain destruction to all my belongings, so I took 
 the only precaution in my power, to prevent such 
 a catastrophe, viz. to unfasten the treck-tow (chain) 
 from the dissel-boom, so that that important portion 
 of my gear should not act as a conductor to the in- 
 flammable part of my load. In proportion to the 
 violence of these hurricanes, as short is their dura- 
 tion ; thus in an hour the storm had passed to 
 leeward, and nought remained to indicate Its visit, 
 save an occasional distant flash of lightning and 
 the muttered deep intonation of the retreating 
 thunder. Soon the cattle were again made fast 
 
1 
 
 ANTICIPA TIONS DISAPPOINTED. 49 
 
 to the waggon, and with hurried steps we pursued 
 the remainder of our journey. No doubt we 
 rejoiced that the storm had passed ; but if I and 
 my Kaffirs did so, every creature imbued with life 
 appeared to do likewise. Thus the francolins and 
 korans, which had formerly been silent, now piped 
 and chattered from every ant-heap ; while the gor- 
 geous bee-eaters, sugar-birds, brilliant orioles, and 
 sociable grosbeaks disported themselves in every 
 direction. Even the grasshoppers and lizards had 
 found a voice, and with it seemed to thank the 
 Creator of the Universe that the danger had now 
 passed. Of course, after the rain the trecking was 
 heavy, but my fat and young bullocks, with a light 
 load behind them, soon traversed the intermediate 
 space to our new camping-ground. 
 Wm In a well-organized hunting expedition, every 
 member of it has his allotted task to perform ; thus, 
 when a halt is called, some are employed in cutting 
 thorn bushes to make the cattle kraal, while others 
 gather fuel for the night fires, or assist the cook 
 in preparing the evening meal. Where we had 
 outspanned timber was not abundant, and what 
 we obtained there was so saturated with the late 
 rain that it was not without considerable difficulty 
 a fire could be made from it. As the sky had 
 become clear and bright, master as well as man 
 anticipated a dry night ; but, as the sun went down, 
 dark opaque clouds again commenced rising to 
 
 E 
 
50 BAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 the eastward, which gradually shut up the face 
 of the heavens, causing the surroundings to be 
 involved in inky darkness. The wind now began 
 to rise in oft-repeated fitful gusts, driving with it 
 sheets of penetrating rain that made even the 
 interior of my waggon far from comfortable. 
 
 It might have been eight o'clock or thereabouts, 
 when my Bechuana hunter reported to me that the 
 bullocks were exceedingly uneasy in their kraal, 
 adding further, " Baas ! there are lions about, and, 
 as the fence round the bullocks is not strong, I think 
 you had better tie them up to their yokes." Advice 
 from such a source was not to be disregarded, for 
 this man had spent all his life among the wild beasts 
 of interior Africa, and knew their habits and haunts 
 as well as we do those of any of our domestic 
 animals. Thus, after much trouble, and with the 
 assistance of my lanterns, the cattle were removed 
 from the kraal and made fast to their respective 
 yokes, while the end of the treck-tow furthest from 
 the waggon was firmly secured to a tree by the aid 
 of a green rheim, the brake on the hind wheels being 
 firmly jarnmed down. Having taken these pre- 
 cautions, the hunter bade me good night, and turned 
 in among his companions under my desert house. 
 
 The poet says, *' coming events cast their shadows 
 before." Some feeling of this kind must have 
 actuated me, for I had an intuitive perception that, 
 before daybreak made its appearance, some mis- 
 
it 
 
 WILLIAM THE DRIVER, 51 
 
 rtune or other would occur. Again and again 
 filled my pipe, and almost as often took my guns 
 cm their racks, to assure myself that their breeches 
 ere not under the drip that came from many a 
 nt in the tilt. I tried to read, but, although I had 
 at wonderfully fascinating work, '* The Woman in 
 hite," I could not concentrate my mind upon it. 
 wice I had gone forth and added fuel to the far 
 rom brilliant watchfires, and while doing so did not 
 fail to observe that none of the bullocks had lain 
 down, but erect, with anxious, distended eyes, gazed 
 earnestly up to windward. Treck oxen are, without 
 exception, obstinate, perverse creatures, sometimes 
 taking alarm where nought is to be dreaded, at 
 other times not taking the slightest precaution to 
 avoid danger where it must have been obvious to 
 them. So, seeing nothing, hearing nothing, I 
 betook myself to my shelter. I had about finished 
 another pipe, when a sudden prolonged pull upon 
 e treck-tow so violently shook my domicile, that 
 f proper precautions had not been taken, it doubt- 
 lessly would have been overturned. At this 
 moment my driver placed his head under the 
 curtain of the tilt, and in smothered words told 
 me that he knew there were lions round us. Not 
 doubting the truth of his statement, I professed to 
 disbelieve it, for, said I, *' Why don't the dogs 
 challenge them } Where are the lazy curs ? " 
 
 William, for that was my driver's name, promptly 
 
52 DAVS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 answered, "If one or two lions about, dogs bark; but 
 I think that there are seven or eight, and that they 
 are scattered round about us, so that the dogs are 
 afraid to go into the bush." Scarcely had my boy 
 done speaking when I thought that the waggon must 
 really go over, for the horses that were secured to 
 the sheltered side of it, commenced to pull and jerk 
 their halters with such violence as several times to 
 raise the leeward wheels an inch or two off the 
 ground. As nothing so reassures these animals, 
 when alarmed, as the human voice, I got out of my 
 conveyance and stood at their heads and talked to 
 them in such kindly language as they were con- 
 versant with ; in the mean time summoning all my 
 attendants from under the waggon, and ordering 
 them to pile on more fuel so as to make as much 
 blaze as possible. 
 
 Dark as the night was, all were busy around the 
 little encampment, if I except the dogs, who seemed 
 to be possessed of such unaccountable timidity that 
 neither words nor blows could drive them out from 
 the shelter they had taken between the wheels. 
 For some minutes all had become quiet, and I began 
 to hope that it had been a false alarm, when a roar 
 so loud and close as to awake the echoes of 
 the surrounding koppies, and startle us, broke the 
 monotonous stillness of the night. Such a roar I 
 have never heard previously or since ; let he that .J 
 likes say what he may, It made the earth tremble. 
 
I 
 
 FRANTIC OXEN. 53 
 
 o the reader it may appear impossible that any 
 animal can produce a volume of sound that almost 
 
 Iivals the thunder m its density ; but let me assure 
 am, if he has heard a mature male lion — not a 
 pological one — in the full vigour of his life, give 
 iterance to his wrath, he will agree with me that 
 there is a sublimity and grandeur and volume in the 
 voice, which, if It does not equal the depth and 
 power of thunder, very nearly approaches to It. 
 
 If quiet had comparatively reigned before, now 
 all was excitement. The bullocks rushed to and fro, 
 trying to break their rheims, the horses reared and 
 pulled upon their halters as If determined to strangle 
 themselves or upset the waggon, while every servant 
 who was not armed seized a firebrand and shouted 
 and called to the beasts of burthen with the hope 
 of stilling their fears. 
 
 So intense was the darkness that nothing could 
 
 I be seen, yet William fired a couple of shots in the 
 Birection from which he Imagined the roar pro- 
 leeded. The blaze and report of his heavy elephant 
 pun, one would Imagine, would have driven off any- 
 thing In the form of a quadruped ; but not so, the 
 Hon roared again at even shorter distance than at 
 first, causing the bullocks to become more frantic, 
 and, therefore, to use further power and strength 
 to break their rheims. 
 
 I thought I could trust my rheims — new buffalo 
 ones — but, alas ! I was in error, for a more violent 
 
54 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 Struggle than had previously been made took place, 
 and they gave way, so the whole team went down 
 to leeward as if they were stampeding before a 
 forest fire. As this method, adopted by lions when 
 about to attack a span of cattle, for it certainly is a 
 preconcerted and arranged plan, may not be gene- 
 rally known, I will briefly attempt to describe it. 
 Lions, as a rule, hunt in family parties, A very old 
 male, not unfrequently incapacitated from taking an 
 active part in pursuing game, is generally to be 
 found at the head of such a coterie, and on him 
 devolves no unimportant part of the programme 
 adopted by his descendants when a trader's or 
 traveller's cattle are destined to become the victims 
 of their ferocity and power. 
 
 Down to leeward, a hundred or more paces below 
 where the bullocks are made fast, the young, active 
 males and lionesses place themselves behind what 
 available cover is to be found. This being done, 
 the aged mannikin goes to windward of the encamp- 
 ment and shakes out his abundant mane in the 
 breeze, so that the effluvia from it may be carried 
 down to the excited draught animals. 
 
 One sniff of the tainted breeze brings every ox to . 
 its feet in a moment ; when standing, often trembling 
 with fear, they gaze with dilated eyes into the im- ^ 
 penetrable darkness. Closer and closer approaches 
 the aged lion to his victims, shaking and reshaking 
 the tawny dense covering of his fore-quarters ; then. 
 
''mMan proposes:' 55 
 
 I the traveller's rheims be not strong, he may look 
 It for a stampede; but should they hold, the 
 jgressor, as a climax to his former manoeuvre, 
 :ves utterance to his deepest and loudest roar, 
 hen the frightened treck beasts, if not secured by 
 le stoutest fastenings that can be obtained, will 
 break free and rush with inconceivable rapidity into 
 the very jaws of their foes secreted to leeward. 
 
 Such was the plan adopted on the occasion of 
 which I speak, and the result was the loss of three 
 of my best draught bullocks. However, I had one 
 satisfaction ; assisted by the light from our now 
 blazing fires, as the patriarch followed on their heels, 
 I was enabled to place a pair of ten-to-the-pound 
 bullets through his tawny hide. This I was certain 
 of, for I heard distinctly the thuds, those never-to- 
 be-forgotten and tell-tale sounds that quickly re- 
 spond to the delivery of successful shots. 
 
 »My performance in marksmanship was not 
 onderful, for the object I fired upon was large, and 
 within fifteen paces of where I stood. The foe, 
 nevertheless, did not drop in his tracks, but con- 
 tinued his course, evidently intending to join his 
 relatives and participate in the provided banquet of 
 newly slaughtered beef. But ** man proposes, God 
 disposes," for many an ominous growl of pain dis- 
 tinctly told that the old marauder was not now in 
 a frame of mind or body to enjoy the feast. The 
 night was so intensely dark, that it would have been 
 
56 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 Utter madness to have risked my life or any of my 
 people's to drive the lions from their prey ; so we 
 satisfied ourselves by piling on fresh fuel, and firing 
 an occasional shot in the direction in which we knew 
 the carnival was taking place. 
 
 With the break of day the lions had departed, 
 leaving behind them nothing but a quantity of scat- 
 tered bones, a dozen hyaenas, and as many more 
 jackals, to tell of the tragedy which had occurred 
 but a few hours before. 
 
 Soon the unclean brutes followed the example of 
 their betters, and skulked off in various directions, 
 doubtless with the intention of returning when the 
 camp was deserted, or as soon as night again placed 
 her impenetrable seal of obscurity upon the land- 
 scape. 
 
 On inspecting the locality where the disaster 
 had taken place, an indentation in the soil was dis- a 
 covered, where several pools of coagulated blood 
 were found, the sand around them being scratched 
 up, while tufts of grass torn from their roots in the 
 ground lay scattered about, and the only spoor 
 in the immediate vicinity was that unquestionably 
 of the old warrior on whom I had opened fire. 
 
 The hunter took up his trail, and, at the distance 
 of half a mile, our foe was detected under the shelter 
 of a mapani bush. 
 
 Poor brute, it was evident that he was sick unto 
 death ; still, his heart was willing for the fight, 
 
I 
 
 LITTLE BEAUTIES, 57 
 
 though his body was weak in power to assist him. 
 On perceiving our advance, with a determined effort, 
 he gained his legs and faced us, his countenance as 
 plainly as language spoken showing that surrender 
 was not intended without a final effort. 
 
 I fear I was prompted by too many feelings of 
 revenge to appreciate the noble sight the dis- 
 comfited foe presented ; but what wonder ? Had 
 I not lost three of my best draught cattle ? — a loss, 
 the magnitude of which can scarcely be understood 
 except by those who have been placed in similar 
 positions. The gallant beast s head was down, his 
 lips curled upwards, so as to show his formidable 
 teeth, while his tall, as stiff and straight as a crow- 
 bar, was erect. If he had now possessed the power, 
 he would have charged ; as it was, he remained 
 as splendid a target as the most fastidious marksman 
 could desire. I aimed between his eyes, and, ere 
 the smoke had drifted away from the muzzle of my 
 smooth-bore, the hero lay extended at length upon 
 the sparsely covered veldt. While admiring my 
 prize, three Makalakas (vassals of the Matabele) 
 approached me ; the grin upon their countenances 
 showed that they had something unusual to tell, or 
 else something to dispose of I was not long detained 
 in doubt which it was ; for from under a kaross two 
 of their number produced each a lion cub, about the 
 size of a six-months-old kitten. While admiring the 
 little beauties, who seemed in no way to feel the 
 
58 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 awkwardness of their position, a roar was heard in 
 the distance, which caused the Makalakas to pick 
 up their treasures and rapidly gain a position behind 
 Wiiliam and myself. " By gum," exclaimed my 
 henchman, " here comes ma ! " And scarcely had he 
 delivered his brief assertion than her ladyship made 
 her appearance, trotting hastily towards us. When 
 seventy or eighty yards off, she halted and uttered a 
 suppressed growl, different in intonation from any that 
 I had ever heard emanate from any of her family. 
 Up to this time the little wee beasties had been 
 models of propriety, but the voice of their dam had 
 in a moment transformed them into fiends incarnate, 
 for they scratched and bit their possessors with 
 such determination and energy, at the same time 
 squealing, that the Makalakas were fain to crush 
 them on the ground the better to enable them to 
 retain their possession. The three natives had 
 a busy time of it in accomplishing their purpose, 
 but William and I had other and more important 
 matters to attend to, for the moment the lioness 
 heard the screams of her offspring, she charged upon 
 us, open-mouthed and almost flying with velocity. 
 
 My first shot staggered her and brought her to 
 the ground, but in an Instant she regained her feet, 
 and, nothing daunted by the check she had received, 
 continued her headlong course. Again I pulled the 
 trigger, and down she fell, her shoulder smashed, 
 for her left foreleg dangled and doubled under her 
 
I 
 
 LEO AND JUNO, 59 
 
 as if deprived of joints ; but a three-legged lioness 
 is not incapable of doing mischief; and so William 
 
 i ought, for at only a few paces he administered 
 e coup -de-gr dee, aimed in the region of the ear, 
 lich put a favourable termination to a short but 
 :ry exciting scene. 
 My new acquaintances, the Makalakas, I learnt, 
 were herdsmen of Lubengulo, king of the Matabeles, 
 who, when driving their cattle up to kraal them for 
 the night, disturbed a lioness ; a Bushman who was 
 with them fired a poisoned arrow at her, which, it 
 was believed, had taken effect. As a scratch from 
 one of these pigmy weapons is almost certain to 
 produce death in a few hours, my new friends had 
 gone at dawn to search for their anticipated prey, 
 but, losing the spoor and making sundry efforts 
 to regain it, they unexpectedly discovered the 
 youngsters in a hole scooped in the bank of a dry 
 watercourse, and they at once appropriated them. 
 ■K It was fortunate they encountered us when they 
 Old, or Madame la Mere would have made them 
 regret their temerity. On examining the lioness, 
 no indication was to be seen that she had been 
 struck by the arrow of the Bushman ; either the 
 bowman had missed her, or this was not the animal 
 he had shot at. A couple of pounds of gunpowder 
 and four bars of lead were treasures too valuable 
 for natives to refuse, so Leo and Juno became my 
 property. The herdsmen, not satisfied with the 
 
6o DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 discovery that the killed lioness was not wounded 
 with the Bushman's arrow, renewed their search ; 
 and in the course of the day, on their return to 
 their kraals, passed my encampment bearing a 
 newly taken hide, satisfactory evidence of the rapid 
 and fearful certainty of the virus with which they 
 anoint the points of their diminutive weapons. 
 
 There are several poisons in use among the 
 aboriginal tribes of Southern Africa, but that ex- 
 tracted from a caterpillar, and designated by the 
 natives " mangue," is the most fatal. The pain 
 which all the victims suffer who have been inoculated 
 with it must be fearful indeed ; but it is not long 
 endured, for two or three hours generally put an 
 end to the stricken animal's existence. Of course, 
 this time is more or less protracted from the size of 
 the wound, the locality in which it is situated, and 
 the quantity of the venom injected ; for instance, on 
 one of the tributaries of the Zambesi, a lioness that 
 had been wounded at sundown did not expire till 
 the following daybreak, during all which time the 
 cries of anguish that she kept repeating told how 
 the poor creature suffered. On examination, this 
 victim of the poisoned arrow only had a slight 
 puncture through the skin close to the flank, but 
 the firmness of the hide had prevented the missile 
 from falling from the wound. 
 
 As the habits of semi-barbarous people always 
 possess great interest for me, I trust they do so 
 
I 
 
 POISONOUS EUPHORBIA. 6i 
 
 for my readers, and I will therefore describe the 
 two other poisons in use among the Bush people, 
 and the manner in which they are employed to 
 serve their purpose. 
 
 First, I will advert to the juice of the euphorbia. 
 This is a family of plants all alike foreign to the 
 European eye, although not by any means strictly 
 tropical. Some species possess much more dele- 
 terious matter than others, the most deadly being in 
 appearance like a crooked pole with a bunch of 
 long, hard leaves decorating its summit. When 
 employed by the natives for the purpose of poison- 
 ing, it is collected in quantities on the margin of 
 a small vley or pond of water, when it is beaten 
 between stones till the necessary quantity of the 
 juice impregnates the water. At night, uncon- 
 scious game, probably thirsting from the hours they 
 have passed in the sun-dried desert, come to the 
 vley to satisfy their craving for drink, but scarcely 
 have they done so when they become intoxicated, 
 and soon after lie down to sleep the sleep that 
 knows no waking. By this means to death I do 
 not think the victims suffer much pain, for all that 
 I have seen that have been killed in this manner 
 ivere in the positions they would assume if they 
 lad laid down to take their natural rest. 
 
 It is strange that this poison is much more in- 
 urious to horses, zebras, and quaggas than it is to 
 loven-hoofed or horned animals. Why I state this 
 
62 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 is that while the former will not proceed over half a 
 mile from where they have imbibed the subtle fluid 
 before being incapacitated from going further, the 
 latter will travel many miles ere they drop, if drop 
 they do, for I am convinced that many of these 
 escape death from this poison, although possibly 
 brought very close to it. 
 
 Among carnivorous animals, such as lions, 
 leopards, hyaenas, dogs, etc., it does not produce 
 death, only stupefies them for the time being ; at 
 least, such was my observation in reference to my 
 dogs, when I knew that they had drunk a quantity of 
 the poisoned water. It is to be regretted that the 
 natives should use such a means to secure game, for I 
 know of a whole herd, amounting to over fifty zebras, 
 perishing in one night, although the requirements 
 of the few inhabitants of the district would have 
 been amply supplied by a couple of carcases, for it 
 must be remembered that in these regions decom- j 
 position sets in very rapidly after life becomes ^ 
 extinct. \ 
 
 The third poison used by these most interesting! 
 natives, especially the Bushmen, is that taken from I 
 the glands of the mamba, cobra, or puff-adder, withi 
 which the points of their arrows are thickly coated. 
 Exposure appears to weaken the virus of these - 
 reptiles ; for, previous to any important hunt taking 
 place, the barbs of their tiny weapons receive a fresh 
 dressing of the baneful fluid. Game killed by al 
 
 I 
 
b 
 
 NATIVE HUNTERS. 63 
 
 the above methods is eaten by the human family or 
 carnivorcE without producing any evil effects. 
 
 It is customary for us, the inhabitants of civi- 
 lized countries, to bewail the ignorance of the 
 savage, and shudder when we think of the difficul- 
 ties that surround his existence. There is no 
 necessity, I can assure my gentle, philanthropic 
 readers, for this ; for where game has not been 
 driven off by the white man's weapons, the Bush- 
 man is seldom without an abundance of food, and 
 feasts to actual gluttony where one of our country- 
 men would starve. One reason for this is that the 
 people of these wastes have lived for generations 
 among the wild beasts, and thus are so conversant 
 with their habits that it requires but slight efforts 
 of chicanery on their part to circumvent them. 
 
 Our most profound scientists could be taught 
 the natural history of the quadrupeds and birds 
 that inhabit the countries of the Bechuanas and 
 Makalakas by the bona fide untutored savage, 
 and it is this knowledge that makes these people 
 so successful as hunters. 
 
 No doubt our ancestors, in Druid days, a long 
 time since equalled, if not excelled, the Bushman of 
 the present time in hunting, and, with scant gar- 
 ments, as often as not with none, scoured the plain 
 i at racing pace in pursuit of their wounded quarry. 
 But, strange as it may appear, the descendants of 
 the most polished members of society will relapse 
 
64 
 
 DAVS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 again into savagery in the third or fourth generation 
 after commencing the descent, and out- Herod the 
 Bushman or savage in cruelty or barbarity. The 
 building of a house is a slow matter ; to pull it 
 down is easily accomplished. 
 
 TABLE MOUNTAIN, SOUTH AFRICA. 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 DANGEROUS BULLOCK — AN IRATE WILD BOAR. 
 
 The moon was later in rising than was expected, so 
 my yarn has become longer than anticipated ; but 
 what a glorious orb she appeared upon presenting 
 herself I Language would fail to describe her ra- 
 diance and grandeur as she appeared over those 
 vast table-lands. The moon, wherever seen from 
 this earth, would be supposed to look exactly the 
 same ; but such is not the case in South Africa, 
 for not only does the guardian of the night look 
 double her preconceived size, but her radiance 
 seems increased many fold also. To read ordinary 
 type by her light is easy ; to distinguish the hours 
 on your watch not difficult ; and I have before now, 
 in that country, sewn on a button or mended a rent 
 in my clothes by her rays, without the assistance of 
 lamp or candle. 
 
 No wonder the Kaffirs and all other primitive 
 races worship the moon on her first reappearance 
 after a period of absence ; for through her light they 
 recognize immunity from the attacks of hostile races 
 
 h 
 
66 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 Upon their stations, and safety for their cattle from 
 the depredations of the flesh-eaters of the forest. 
 
 In every team of treck oxen that I have known 
 there always is a dS^e noir, sl beast that gives more 
 trouble than all the others put together, so no one 
 will learn with surprise that I then possessed such 
 a plague. Often has this brute's conduct tempted 
 me to shoot him, and from taking such a step I only 
 desisted by remembering that he was a willing and 
 powerful animal to pull when once secured in the 
 yoke. This ox was an ugly beast to look at, of a 
 mousey-black colour, unevenly shaped horns, the 
 one hanging down and pointing forward, the other 
 projecting at right angles from the side of the head. 
 This formation of his natural weapons made him 
 particularly dangerous to the natives when he was 
 on the rampage, and well they knew it, for he in- 
 variably received a wide berth from all of them until 
 he could be cornered, and the leading rheim made 
 fast to the beast's most unornamental pair of horns. 
 Well, Master Ackerman, for every ox has a name, 
 had been chased all over the place for about ten 
 minutes, till, finding his pursuers were not to be 
 outdone, he took refuge between one of the after 
 bullocks and my waggon. He could not go forward 
 on account of the dissel-boom ; to retire was im- 
 possible, from the jamboks that assailed his flank 
 and rear, so, making a virtue of necessity, the 
 refractory creature allowed himself to be lassoed. 
 
I 
 
 CHILD OF THE EVIL ONE. 67 
 
 , When thus secured, he never made an attempt 
 
 Ip resistance, but with the utmost submission 
 was led to his allotted place in the team, all the 
 time behaving as the most submissive, willing, and 
 good-tempered of servitors. While this fracas had 
 been going on the camp-fires had become scattered 
 and almost extinguished, so the absence of the dogs 
 was not noticed, but presently there arose on the 
 stillness of the night a diabolical clamour of angry 
 throats, proclaiming that every cur had a voice In 
 the disturbance. We supposed the cause of this din 
 to be the discovery of a porcupine or an ant-bear, 
 so all went on with their respective occupations. 
 However, this was not for long, for soon a rush was 
 made in our direction, and something almost as big 
 as a donkey passed by my side, upset a nigger, 
 almost ricocheted off Ackerman, and, as rapidly as 
 it had made its appearance, disappeared into the 
 
 I heavy shadows afforded by some adjoining trees. 
 
 ' With stentorian lungs, every hound followed in close 
 pursuit, vowing vengeance, and the violence they 
 would do the enemy the moment they were able to 
 overtake him. Ackerman, child of the evil one, 
 concocter of mischief, rebellious offspring of an 
 impure mother (terms addressed to him by my 
 attendants), took advantage of the disturbance, 
 made a dash forward, broke his rheim, and in a 
 moment was ** cavorting" free over the veldt. Loud 
 and deep were the curses now hurled at him by 
 
68 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 every one who had previously assisted at his capture ; 
 but a black man does not, fortunately, cease action 
 because he must swear, so all were soon again in 
 pursuit of the recusant ox. The chase this time 
 was both longer and more difficult than the previous 
 one had been, but. it .was followed up perseveringly 
 till rewarded^ with success. 
 
 All being now in readiness, the whips cracked, 
 the drivers shouted *'Amaga treck ! " and the ships 
 of the desert were once more in motion. 
 
 Now r had time to compare notes and inquire 
 what our assailant had been, for up to this time I 
 was ignorant on the point, the creature having 
 passed me so suddenly and unexpectedly that I 
 never got a -fair -sight of it. : Not so with my atten- 
 dants; unanimously they pronounced the animal to 
 be a dosch-vaark, or hush-i^xg. The voorlooper 
 (leader), who had -been knocked over, I therefore 
 naturally concluded niust be cut, for the reason that 
 these swine use their tusks with terrible effect ; but 
 such was not the case. The hog had never touched 
 him, his fall being attributable to a dog having 
 attempted to pass between his very bandy and 
 un symmetrical legs. 
 
 Chummy and I, having seen that nothing was 
 left behind, now lit our pipes at a smouldering coal, 
 and hurried on to overtake the cavalcade, slowly 
 progressing nearly half a mile in our front. The 
 landscape was thoroughly African, and, to me, more 
 
•MMMh 
 
 ^ 
 
1^ THE PLACE OF HONOUR. 69 
 
 attractive on that account. In front, about two 
 hours' treck distant, was a long range of low hills, 
 with those flat tops peculiarly characteristic of this 
 
 Iirt of the earth, while scattered around at various, 
 jt generally considerable distances apart, stood 
 ngle or small groups of mimosa trees, which dis- 
 tribution ever gives a particularly park-like appear- 
 ance to the picture. A Cape waggon at such times 
 appears wonderfully attractive ; slowly, evenly, and 
 silently it glides on, the snow-white canvas tilt 
 resembling an iceberg in a becalmed green and 
 yellow sea. Now and again is heard the driver's 
 voice, shouting words of encouragement or reproof 
 to the long double string of toiling cattle, while the 
 powerful whip at frequent intervals produces its 
 rifle-like report, causing the echoes to emit answers 
 resembling a volley fired from numerous revolvers. 
 But the greatest attraction of all was the grand, 
 wondrous, and enthralling moon, now several hours 
 high, surrounded by a setting of the most trans- 
 parent azure that imagination can conceive. Not a 
 cloud, nay, not a film of a cloud, was to be seen 
 whichever '*airt" you gazed, so that to surmise a 
 change of weather would be the very last idea 
 that could possibly find place in the imagination of 
 the greatest pessimist. 
 
 Putting on an extra pace, we soon passed our 
 belongings and took the lead. This is the place of 
 honour when not riding — so, at least, it is considered 
 
70 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 by the Boer bass. I differ from them, for the 
 place of honour should ever be the place of danger ; 
 and certainly the advance guard is not, upon occa- 
 sions such as this, where attack is to be apprehended 
 from the wild animals of the forest. I never knew 
 of an ox being pulled down by a lion when in the 
 yoke trecking. I have heard of such things 
 occurring, but I am convinced that they are very 
 few and far between ; so the careful traveller will 
 ever do well to see that all his loose beasts, whether 
 horses, hounds, cattle, or sheep, precede the waggons. 
 If this advice be neglected, disaster may assuredly 
 be apprehended. 
 
 On the Notowani river, a friend and shooting 
 companion lost a most valuable '"saulted" horse 
 through the natives having forgotten this precaution ; 
 but there was some excuse for their dereliction of 
 duty. It was in this way: to get to the river named, 
 long forced marches had been made ; on reaching it, 
 of course it had at once to be forded, for no interior 
 trader fails to do this, in case a flood should take 
 place during the night, and his advance in con- 
 sequence be delayed for an unknown time. My 
 waggon got safely over the *' drift," being light, but 
 my friend s stuck hard and fast in its centre. To 
 assist the driver, and encourage the bullocks to 
 renewed exertions, the herds deserted the loose 
 animals, who doubtless commenced to feed upon the 
 succulent grasses that abounded upon the stream's 
 
I 
 
 HORSE KILLED. 
 
 71 
 
 oist margin. In a few minutes a roar was heard ; 
 it announced that my friend had lost one of the 
 most valuable horses in the country, and that the 
 lions had obtained an ample meal of their favourite 
 food. 
 
 e^^ 
 
 '/-^4'*r"'~ 
 
 J^, 
 
 :^'^>jf^ 
 
 DURBAN BAY, FROM BEREA. 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 OUR BATTERY A TROPICAL STORM. 
 
 As the night was cool, and a nice invigorating 
 breeze had sprung up, after a short outspan, we 
 resolved to renew our journey, but as we had 
 tramped as far as inclination prompted us, both 
 adjourned to my conveyance to inspect some of 
 our heretofore unpacked armanent, in case chafing 
 should have occurred to any of the guns through 
 the oscillation or swing of the waggon-box. For- 
 tunately we had not suffered in this respect, although 
 each weapon had been inspected by the custom- 
 house officers at Port Elizabeth, and they or their 
 employers could scarcely be expected to return our 
 treasures to their cases with the same care as had 
 been bestowed upon them by their respective makers. 
 My ship of the desert was very snug inside, com- 
 fortable, and far from unattractive in fine weather, 
 so we dawdled in our occupation. If the reader 
 likes, we will admit him into our confidence ; for if, 
 at some future period, he should wish to do the 
 same, he may derive some knowledge which may 
 
"n 
 
 GUNS SUITABLE FOR AFRICA. 73 
 
 nable him the better to face the dangers that 
 must ever beset the traveller, sportsman, or explorer 
 in unfrequented portions of the earth. 
 
 Altogether we have seventeen stand of arms, for 
 
 »r attendants want weapons as well as ourselves 
 soon as we get into the big-game veldt, and 
 breakages will occur. They are divided as follows : — • 
 
 1. Four double Express central-fire breech- 
 loading rifles of -450 calibre. 
 
 2. Four smooth double guns, lo-bore, made 
 purposely for shooting ball, and weighing nearly 
 10 lb. each. 
 
 3. Two smooth double guns, 8-bore, made 
 specially for shooting ball, and weighing nearly 
 1 6 lb. each. 
 
 IP 4. Four Martini- Henry rifles. Government 
 calibre, stocked for sporting purposes. 
 
 Hp 5. One single smooth central-fire 4-bore, made 
 expressly for shooting ball, weight about 1 6 lb. 
 
 6. Two lo-bore shot guns, left barrel of each 
 considerably choked. 
 
 ''What an enormous battery!" I hear many 
 exclaim in astonishment ; but it must be remem- 
 bered that the period of our absence was uncertain, 
 mishaps are always on the tapis where no repairs 
 can be obtained, and lastly, that it would be a most 
 disagreeable contretemps to be brought to a stand- 
 still in a country overflowing with game for the 
 want of a weapon in perfect repair. 
 
74 DAVS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 The uses to which each weapon was intended to 
 be put were — No. i, with hollow bullets, for large 
 carnivorae and big antelopes. This is the prince of 
 weapons for such work, as they are seldom called 
 upon to perform at over two hundred yards. I am 
 quite aware they do a terrible lot of damage to 
 edible game that is required to be cut up into 
 attractive joints ; but in this country such is not 
 deemed necessary, and, however mangled any por- 
 tion of a beast may become from the smashing up 
 of the bullet, it in no way prevents your attendants 
 from enjoying it as food. Moreover, losing wounded 
 game, when struck with this projectile, is reduced 
 to a minimum — no unimportant thing, when, through 
 circumstances that are unavoidable, you are reduced 
 to short commons. For lions and such like, a 450 
 Express, with a hollow bullet, if held straight, is 
 simply destruction. 
 
 No. 2 is a good all-round gun, with eight 
 drachms of powder behind a spherical ball. With it 
 you can stop an elephant at sixty or seventy paces, 
 or tumble over a giraffe or buffalo at nearly double 
 that distance. It can be bored to shoot very accu- 
 rately up to a hundred and twenty yards, and with 
 some certainty of precision up to two hundred. 
 As the recoil is considerable with the above arm 
 so loaded, the anti-recoil pads, made by Messrs. 
 Silver and Co., of Corhhill, will be found most 
 valuable ; but particular care must be taken in 
 
I 
 
 MARTINI-HENRY RIFLES, 75 
 
 their fitting that the stock is not unnecessarily 
 lenethened. 
 
 Nos. 3 and 5 are simply more smashing weapons 
 than No. 2. The charge for the first is about 1 1 
 drachms ; for the last about as much more as you 
 like to put in it. I have constantly used one of the 
 No. 3, but I do not think their execution makes up 
 for the additional weight that they inflict upon 
 you, particularly in a rough country, and exposed 
 to a tropical sun. No. 5 I have fired ; it was some 
 years ago ; still I continue to be obstinate enough 
 to adhere to the resolution then taken, viz., " Never 
 no more for me." I have found them act bene- 
 ficially upon rebellious servants, when allowed no 
 other weapon to shoot with. A very objectionable 
 white man once deprived me of his company (.'*) 
 because I would spare him no other weapon. Thus 
 it will be seen that a 4-bore has some advantages 
 that the previously mentioned do not possess. 
 Twenty-six inch barrels are quite long enough for 
 the 4 and 8 -bores. With the lo-bores 28-inch 
 barrels have given me the best results. This is 
 probably because more accuracy is expected from 
 them, as they will not unfrequently be used upon 
 comparatively small game, at longer ranges than 
 the larger guns would be. 
 
 No. 4. The Martini-Henry rifles are always 
 I useful weapons, but more especially do they show 
 I their excellence upon large flats free from trees 
 
76 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 and brush, where game will often be found very 
 wild, and 400-yard shots have to be made. They 
 have, nevertheless, one great objection in a sandy 
 country, an objection that I wrote of years ago, 
 viz., that the fine particles frequently incapacitate 
 the ejector from performing its duty and the block 
 from falling. 
 
 No. 6. The last, thank Goodness, on the list 
 require no comments further than that they are 
 wanted to keep the pot supplied, when change of 
 diet is required, or when kooran, wild-fowl, dikop, 
 and sand-grouse are only to be obtained. Why 
 I prefer a lo-bore is that I became accustomed 
 to the size in America ; further, I will add, in 
 spite of the heresy that many English sportsmen 
 will think I commit by doing so, that I have ever 
 got such superior shooting from a lo-bore over : 
 a i2-bore, that the additional weight that I carried 
 was more than counterbalanced by the results. 
 A further consideration should be added before 
 closing my comments on my battery, and that no \ 
 unimportant one, viz., that the same shells and [ 
 wads fitted my favourite ball guns that were used 
 in the shot ones. 
 
 But the treck had suddenly come to an end, and 
 big drops of rain were resounding off the tight tilt 
 of the waggon as if they were falling upon a drum. 
 In a moment we were both out of our sanctuary to 
 inquire the cause, but there was no need to ask 
 
I 
 
 LEADING SPIRITS OF MISCHIEF. 77 
 
 uestions ; the moon was totally obscured, and 
 thorough blackness surrounded us ; such darkness, 
 so dense in its intensity, that I almost thought that 
 I could feel its pressure. But this was only momen- 
 tary. Lightning, in a dozen forked tongues, eye- 
 blinding in its dazzling brilliancy, descended to 
 earth, revealing the course that each flash had 
 taken, and the numerous acute angles and deviations 
 that it had made in its course. 
 
 There was a tope of acacia near us, and we made 
 for it, when my voice, rather a strong one, and, 
 therefore, on such occasions useful, shouted out the 
 requisite orders for making all snug ere the 
 promised storm should break upon us. 
 
 My people knew their work, and zealously 
 performed it. In a few minutes the cattle were all 
 released from their yokes ; the sail, an immense 
 sheet of greased canvas, was passed over each 
 waggon and made fast by rheims to the spokes and 
 felloes of the wheels, and large fires were lighted 
 before and behind our camping-place. No need 
 for tying up the bullocks that night ; they were too 
 tired to wander, and we scarcely expected that 
 we had advanced far enough into the bowels of 
 the land for the king of beasts to pay us a visit 
 and drive them off. During the flashes of lightning 
 you could see that half of the oxen had already 
 lain down, and among their number were Ackerman 
 and Gilbert, the leading spirits when mischief was 
 
78 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 contemplated, so you might rest assured that all 
 would be found close by when day broke. The 
 horses were not so submissive, although they were 
 between the waggons ; the vivid flashes seemed to 
 frighten them beyond control of human agency, 
 and but for the strength of their halters they would 
 soon have been careering over the veldt. When I 
 say horses, I make a mistake, for there was one 
 notable exception in his conduct to that of the others. 
 It was old Moke, who had his muzzle deep in his 
 nose-bag, and crunch, crunch, crunched his mealies 
 as if the outer world and the disturbances that sur- 
 rounded him were quite of minor importance as 
 long as he was permitted to uninterruptedly enjoy 
 his repast. If philosophers exist among horses, 
 then that horse was one, for most thoroughly did 
 he believe, and act up to the belief, that it was time 
 enough to discontinue gratifying his appetite when 
 he was prevented from doing so. 
 
 BUSHMAN KRAAL. 
 
CHAPTER X. 
 
 A DANGEROUS THUNDERSTORM — A DISSATISFIED COOK. 
 
 Thunder does not always accompany lightning, 
 more especially in the tropics, but on this occasion 
 we were not to be deprived of the soul-enthralling, 
 awe-inspiring sound caused by the warring of the 
 elements. At length the great voice spoke. So short 
 and concise was its utterance that all stood aghast. 
 Its emphasis, its power, and its sublimity were such 
 that every one, regardless of colour and creed, were 
 overpowered with dismay. I have frequently stood 
 by the side of the heaviest siege guns and mortars 
 when they have been fired, but they were a baga- 
 telle to the voice of the raging elements. The 
 detonation lasted little more than an instant ; but, 
 short as was that time, what terrible force and power 
 of destruction it heralded ! For a moment after, all 
 was a death-like stillness, then the echoes took up 
 I the thunder roar, and every tree, rock, and hill re- 
 : verberated with its ironical applause, ha ! ha ! ha ! 
 I But, long ere the kloofs, kranzes, and kopjie 
 I had ceased their answering song, the heavens 
 
 U 
 
8o DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 seemed cleft asunder by many a rift of fire, tearing 
 and rending the intense darkness, as if naught but 
 the immolation of the earth would satisfy the craving 
 for destruction of these erratic fiends. The rain, 
 which for a time had ceased, now descended like a 
 cataract, evidently Intent upon engulfing what its 
 allies had left uninjured. A dead calm for a breath- 
 ing space had reigned. Not so now, for the winds 
 rushed forth, tearing and prostrating whatever dared 
 to oppose their progress. Several of the adjoining 
 trees told their downfall by the crash with which 
 they saluted their parent earth, while others groaned, 
 and trembled as if supplicating to be spared the fate 
 of their comrades. 
 
 It is such an ordeal as this that tests the courage 
 and discipline of a vessel's crew : the present expe- 
 rience tried the material my people were composed 
 of, and, with the exception of our cook, I found all 
 equal to the occasion. When the gale struck the 
 camp, for some seconds I feared that it would 
 overturn the waggons, more especially as the horses 
 attached to them used every effort to rend them- 
 selves free ; and great must have been the breakage 
 and loss of property if such a co7ttretemps had taken 
 place. So it became necessary, for their sake as well 
 as mine, that they should be released. I shouted 
 for the Totty and Zulu, for all, every one, to assist 
 me in the task I had allotted myself, which was far 
 from free from very many elements of danger ; and, 
 
I 
 
 A TROPICAL STORM. 8i 
 
 a moment, they were by my side, emulating each 
 other In their zeal, energy and courage to follow 
 my example. The job was not a long one, for the 
 rhelms that did the duties of halter ropes were 
 secured with slip-knots, one pull on which undid 
 them. But we dare not now turn the horses 
 loose, or they would have stampeded, and to hold 
 them would have required the united strength of 
 the whole party, who, being needed for other Im- 
 portant purposes, could not be spared, so I tied 
 their heads together, with little more than a foot 
 I of halter between the muzzle of each, and thus 
 I successfully put a stop to any proclivities for 
 j straying. Happily, animals under such circum- 
 I stances can never make up their minds to work 
 ] in unison, so the desire of one thwarted the in- 
 i! tentions of the other. But still the waggons were 
 not yet secure from being upset, and it became 
 necessary to at once prevent such a catastrophe, 
 which can only be done by stretching several storm 
 lines over the tilt of each, and firmly and tautly 
 securing their terminations to stakes or bush roots 
 on both sides. But while all this labour was being 
 gone through, it is not to be imagined that the 
 thunder and lightning had abated, or the hurricane 
 »of wind and rain lessened. No such thing; for, 
 j momentarily, all seemed to increase in violence, as 
 if the taste for destruction which they had enjoyed 
 caused them to crave for further powers of wreckage. 
 
 G 
 
 ll 
 
82 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 The third peal of thunder was the most terrible 
 of all, and the lightning which accompanied it ex- 
 celled in dazzling brilliancy and number of descend- 
 ing streams of fire anything imagination could 
 picture. At one moment the zenith looked a mass 
 of flame, and from that centre radiated, like un- 
 countable spokes of a giant wheel, forked lines of 
 livid electricity. 
 
 Of course, by this time my companions and self 
 were wet to the skin ; but neither dare take shelter 
 in our waggons, for the amount of iron in their con- 
 struction would alone have made them dangerously 
 attractive, while the long, brightly worn treck-tows, 
 almost thirty yards in length, and made fast to the 
 body of our conveyances, could not fail to possess 
 no mean power for conducting the lightning to 
 them ; and if such a contingency had happened, fed 
 with nearly thirty thousand rounds of ammunition 
 — well, there would not have been much in the 
 morning to pick up worth carrying away. No, we 
 preferred taking our comfort in the open, and so 
 did our people ; not that any of us were afraid — oh,!^ 
 no ! not in the least. 
 
 The wrath of women of tropical climes is terrible, 
 but shortlived. The violence of storms in those 
 latitudes is the same ; if you are not killed in the 
 commencement of the outburst, you will probably 
 live to be immolated upon a future occasion. More 
 over, when once the climax is reached in both cases 
 
PAST WANDERINGS. 83 
 
 there is a simmering down, gradual at first, but 
 rapidly increasing in velocity, that is far from worthy 
 
 II the beginning. 
 I Soon the vortex of the storm moved from over 
 B, only changing its venue by slow degrees, till 
 Ime space severed us ; when, as if ashamed of its 
 urbulence, with ever-increasing rapidity of stride, 
 with redoubled energy, it hurried from our locality. 
 Still for an hour or more I heard the storm in the 
 distance, away over the hills that lay in our front ; 
 and I fear I rejoiced as I thought they were feeling 
 its violence, for had not they derided us with their 
 echoing, when we, unsheltered, were enduring its 
 giant force ? 
 
 Soon after, the moon came oiit, unclouded and 
 brilliant, gazing down upon us with her serene, com- 
 forting face, as if she desired to assure us that we 
 were not forgotten, and that her subdued, enchanting 
 light was lovingly tendered us as an offering of 
 I peace, sympathy, and goodwill, for the manifold 
 j dangers and discomforts we had suffered from her 
 I rash and violent neighbours aloft. 
 
 In my numerous wanderings, whether they have 
 been where cyclones devastate the ocean, or hurri- 
 canes prostrate the forest, or typhoons strew the 
 seas with wreckage and mangled human remains, I 
 never remember the warring of the elements to be 
 so destructive and awe-inspiring, as upon these 
 table-lands of South Africa. To admire their sub- 
 
84 BAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 limity and grandeur no one can fail, but to deny 
 being impressed with our utter insignificance and 
 the power of the great Creator is impossible. 
 
 I have known persons who boasted of their 
 atheism, their contempt of danger, and their disre- 
 gard of death become blanched in the face in one 
 of these storms which I have attempted to describe, 
 from their knowledge of their proximity to destruc- 
 tion, and their whole nervous system disorganized 
 from fear. 
 
 The horses had scarcely moved from where they 
 had been left ; the bullocks, drenched, remained 
 where they had lain down, unwearyingly chewing 
 their cud, while many of the dogs came forth from 
 underneath the waggons and bow-wowed a welcome 
 on our return to them. All were happy now, unless 
 guzzling, over-fed cookey, who never ceased lament- 
 ing that he had not been warned of the danger he 
 had run of being blown to atoms, by seeking shelter 
 under the waggons. Some men would have rejoiced 
 at their escape from such imminent danger ; not so 
 with this fat porpoise, he ever had or made a 
 grievance, and nursed the poor thing till It was 
 threadbare or worn out. 
 
CHAPTER XI. 
 
 WILD PIGS — AN EXCITING HUNT. 
 
 was late before we trecked, and then only 
 accomplished a distance of five or six miles, for we 
 came across a splendid pool of rain-water among the 
 hills, that was too attractive not to outspan beside. 
 
 The air during our march was most invigorating 
 and free from dust, the bush as bright and green as 
 if just supplied with fresh foliage, while the birds 
 
 ! and smaller antelopes frisked about as if a new life, 
 and one of eternal pleasure, already appeared before 
 
 1 them. 
 
 Ip The country we had got into was far more un- 
 
 ' dulating than previously, and another characteristic, 
 both pleasant to the eye and prophetic of sport, was 
 that it was well covered in parts with large spaces 
 of dwarf brushwood. 
 
 Having ordered a lavish dinner at sunset, 
 I perched myself on the waggon-box and took a 
 survey of the surrounding country with my binocular. 
 At almost the first glance I took through it, the 
 
 i 
 
£6 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT 
 
 focus lit upon some animals I could not exactly 
 make out. I called up Totty to my assistance, and 
 requested information. His bleary eyes, which 
 always had a smoke-dried colour about them, and, 
 therefore, did not look as if they were of much use, 
 immediately informed me that they were bosch-vaarkes 
 (bush pigs). This I could scarcely believe, for they 
 looked to me almost as large as buffaloes ; but these 
 they could not be, so I accepted my attendant's 
 assertion ; more especially did I do so without cavil, 
 for there was at the time a very perceptible mirage 
 on the horizon. 
 
 A further view of the ground where the game 
 was gave me the impression that it was excellent 
 galloping, so I armed myself with a hog-spear, 
 determined, if possible, to prove what can be done 
 in this part of the world In pig-sticking. 
 
 We mustered quite a numerous band, for some 
 Bakalihari had joined us. The anticipated sport 
 put all in good temper, so no end of chaff was being 
 indulged in, no small amount of which was aimed \ 
 at me, and the weapon with which I was furnished. 
 The Hottentot felt its edge, and grinned, and, I sup- 
 pose, winked at his companions, for all tittered ; but 
 when the Zulu remarked, it was what they killed i 
 sea-cows and elephants with in his country, the 
 titter became a most unmistakable laugh. 
 
 Fearing that the dogs might get Injured in hunt- 
 ing our intended game, I ordered all to be tied u p ; 
 
k 
 
 HOG-STICKING. 87 
 
 a proceeding which each resented by howling in the 
 most discordant manner. 
 
 I The red-skimmel (roan) mare, which I selected 
 r my riding, was fresh as paint, but well-mannered, 
 I I felt reason to anticipate sport of the first water. 
 When we had gone half a mile, a halt was pro- 
 posed, to enable two of the Bakalihari to go forward 
 and reconnoitre. This was acceded to, and in ten 
 minutes they returned. Then followed a short 
 consultation, the result of which was that four of 
 the party were despatched to stop with brush some 
 earths known to exist in a neighbouring hollow, and 
 for which the game was expected to make. This 
 detachment was given about twenty minutes to per- 
 form their work, when the advance commenced. 
 My mare, evidently aware that something was on 
 the tapis, now became very fidgety, and evinced 
 strong anxiety to take the lead, but by a little 
 judicious handling of her mouth, and some soothing 
 language, I managed to keep her thirty or forty paces 
 ■■^ rear of the dusky natives. Every moment I 
 "%cpected to get a view of the quarry, when, confound 
 it, with a rush like a hawk striking its prey. Arrack, 
 who had slipped his collar, passed me ; but this 
 was not all I had to complain of, for not very 
 far in rear I could hear the deep voice of Old Bull, 
 another hound that had done the same, bassly 
 I proclaiming that he was running my spoor. Arrack 
 set the example of rushing in, the darkies ran after 
 
 fe 
 
88 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 him, and I after them ; not an instant too soon, 
 either, for there were the swine, seven in number, 
 following one another at their best pace. The 
 leader of the string was a slab-sided old sow ; five 
 youngsters about half-grown came after ; while pater- 
 familias, a- sturdy, irascible old gentleman, ever 
 casting a glance behind him, brought up the rear, 
 and within fifty yards of his stern was my much- 
 valued . hound. Visions of a disembowelled dog 
 floated before me, and that dog the favourite of all 
 my pack, but, as I could not alter circumstances, I 
 had_ to endure them ; so, rising in my stirrups, and 
 giving a yell like a lunatic Comanche, I put the 
 mare, at her best pace and made for the veteran 
 boar. He being the last,. I thought, of course. 
 Arrack would devote his attention to him ; but in 
 this . I 'Wfas much mistaken, .the dog preferred young 
 pork to old, or an easy victory to a hard-fought 
 battle, so singled out a squeaker. With much satis- 
 faction I recognized his sagacity. 
 
 By this time I was only a few strides from my 
 intended victim, my mount going well within herself, 
 and evidently willing to take me alongside the game, 
 so I called upon her for a little more speed, which 
 she responded to ; the result of which was nearly to 
 bring me within striking distance of the boar, and 
 to turn him off at right angles from the course his 
 wife and children had pursued. 
 
 At this moment I heard a most unearthly 
 
FIRST SPEAR. 89 
 
 screaming. '' Arrack has got one of the youngsters 
 by the ear," I mentally exclaimed, and pushed after 
 my game. Again I made an effort to run alongside 
 the hog ; but, to my surprise, the old scoundrel had 
 been *' playing 'possum " all this time, and making a 
 waiting race of it ; for, the instant I was rising in my 
 stirrups to job the beast, he stretched himself out to 
 a gallop that was so fast that well I knew, if he kept 
 it up, it would be more than my mare could do to 
 overhaul him. 
 
 However, the boar was fat, and consequently not 
 in the best of training ; so, after a spurt of a few 
 hundred yards, he commenced moderating his gait. 
 At this time he looked very savage, his wicked 
 pigmy left eye ever and again casting back a vin- 
 dictive glance. This I could see, for I was riding a 
 trifle wide of the quarry. 
 
 Foam now commenced to drop in constant flakes 
 from the boar's mouth, a pretty good indication that 
 the beast was tolerably pumped ; so, getting my 
 mount well in hand, I rushed her at him, and as 
 I shot past, reached over and delivered a severe 
 stab. The thrust was Intended for the top of the 
 shoulder-blade ; but, however excellent my Intention, 
 I did not succeed in it, but merely inflicted a long 
 and ugly flesh wound in the foe's flank. This 
 thrust, however, had the effect of changing the 
 boar's course for the direction the other members of 
 his family had taken, doubtless with the object of 
 
90 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 gaining his sanctuary in the ground, so I determined 
 to bring matters to a crisis. A hundred yards or 
 more brought me close up to my game's stern, 
 when a prick of the spurs shot me alongside, but I 
 misplaced my steel quite as ignominiously as I had 
 done previously ; the result upon the foe, however, 
 was different ; instead of retreating, he turned reso- 
 lutely to bay. The mare did not like this proceed- 
 ing, so obstinately refused to charge ; thus, then and 
 there, I had a battle with her, but, in spite of spur 
 and voice, I could not get my roan closer than eight 
 or ten paces of the hog. I futilely lost a good five 
 minutes at this work, and probably would have 
 lost as many more if allowed, when, with a dash, the 
 boar charged me, apparently went through between 
 my nag's legs, who gave a jump at the same moment, 
 higher by many degrees than ever she had done 
 before to my knowledge, and the grizzly old warrior 
 was again going his best pace in the direction of his 
 sanctuary. 
 
 I did not wait to examine whether my horse 
 was cut ; I was too wroth 'to consider or act as I 
 ought to have done upon such an occasion. Thus 
 I did not let the grass grow under the mare's feet, 
 but at her best pace rattled her down hill, took a 
 pull on her head over the flat to steady her, and 
 was just about to make another rush when the hog 
 sprang forward over a donga (a sun-crack in the 
 ground). 
 
A TREMENDOUS FALL. 91 
 
 Knowing It to be an accepted fact that a horse 
 n always jump what a hog does, I rushed the mare 
 it. I could see it was a pretty wide stretch, but 
 I did not see any more for some minutes, and then 
 saw stars — very numerous and confoundedly erratic 
 ones too ! Yes, I had got across ; but I made this 
 mistake, that I did not bring my mare with me. 
 This was certainly neglectful on my part ; but, to 
 tell the truth, I could not help it. 
 
 It was some time before I definitely came to a 
 resolution whether I would remain where I was or 
 ride in search of my companions ; but, to perform the 
 latter, it was necessary to know whether I had an 
 animal that could carry me. It is wonderful with 
 what indifference I set about gaining this infor- 
 mation. One horse more or less did not appear 
 worth thinking about ; so I confess that I did not 
 trouble myself very much over the matter. How- 
 \ ever, I was awoke from this happy lethargic state of 
 ■•difference by seeing the red-skimmel using her 
 ■Kmost exertions to clamber out of the bowels of the 
 I earth and gain a more satisfactory view of the country 
 I than is to be obtained seven or eight feet under 
 ! ground. Without difficulty I captured my beast ; 
 ! but, having accomplished that feat, it Is wonderful 
 j how careless I felt about getting into the saddle. 
 I In fact, I may confess it, I had come a tremendous 
 fall, and, although no bones were broken, I was nearly 
 sufficiently shaken up to be made into an omelette. 
 
 u 
 
92 
 
 DAVS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 As soon as I could pull myself together, I learned 
 that my people had enjoyed themselves thoroughly, 
 killed two of the squeakers, and had nearly got ripped 
 by the old boar, who had ultimately made good his 
 retreat into his burrow. 
 
 *' Love your enemies " is a precept often quoted, 
 but, I fear, seldom adopted. I cannot say that I 
 love that old boar, but I certainly respect him — you 
 know, a man can scarcely be expected to love a pig 
 — yet I hope he will live to a green old age, and be 
 father of a numerous progeny as fleet, as game, and 
 as resolute as their progenitor. 
 
 MIDDAY HALT. 
 
CHAPTER XII. 
 
 'UFF-ADDERS THE STRENGTH OF THEIR POISON. 
 
 Although the fall I experienced in pursuit of the 
 bush-pig was anything but a joke, I felt no further 
 inconvenience from it, than being a little stiff in the 
 morning, and as for the mare, she appeared to be in 
 no way affected by the contretemps^ for she not only 
 greedily emptied her nose-bag that night, but looked 
 on the morrow fit to go for a man's life. Nobody 
 in Africa appears to suffer from such accidents. 
 It is fortunate they do not, for so frequent are they 
 that, if the result were otherwise, the colony would 
 soon become depopulated. 
 
 I have noticed the same in India — in India in 
 the good old days when John Company was king. 
 The subalterns of that time were not like those that 
 are to be found in that sunny region now. I do not 
 write from malice prepense, but from the personal 
 experience of others as well as that of myself. 
 
 Just before the mutiny occurred, I saw many 
 a youngster, when a sounder of hogs was reported 
 in the vicinity of camp, go in pursuit of them 
 
94 Z>AVS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 bare-backed, In preference to waiting for his horse 
 being saddled. Further, I could name many 
 an old acquaintance who invariably rode, except 
 when travelling, on naught but a blanket with a sur- 
 cingle passed round it. 
 
 The young colonists of the Cape of the present 
 day remind me much of those dashing, gallant 
 youths, whose numbers were so awfully thinned by 
 Nana Sahib and his followers. But this does not 
 account for my having come off scatheless after my 
 fall ; therefore, I must accredit It to luck, for I did 
 not then ride one ounce under fourteen stone. 
 
 Soon after breakfast I took a stroll, more with 
 the intention of botanical research than to kill 
 animal life ; still, I had my rifle with me ; for, know, 
 reader, in this part of the world it should always be 
 your nearest, if not dearest, friend. I found flower- 
 ing verbenas of different colours abundant, and had 
 soon collected a choice assortment of this charming 
 blossom, for it has ever been to me a prime favourite, j 
 This doubtless arises from the circumstance that \ 
 my father's garden In my boyhood's days was cele- 
 brated for their production, and neither time nor . 
 trouble was spared by the indulgent parent and the ' 
 old gardener in bringing them to the greatest per- 
 fection. ** Like father, like son ; " so, with insatiable i' 
 appetite and unwearied energy, I searched far and 
 near for a new variety of verbena to add to my col- 
 lection. A pile of detached stones stood before me, 
 
NAMAQUA PARTRIDGES, 95 
 
 overgrown with wondrous parasites, gorgeous in 
 colour, luxuriant in a superabundance of foliage ; 
 behind it, on the shadow side, where there must 
 have been protection from the sun during all but 
 the midday hours, I expected to find a prize. With 
 anxious and keen eye I looked over the barrier for 
 some minutes, yet I saw not what I sought, but at 
 length, by slow degrees, became convinced that I 
 was gazing upon something gifted with life and also 
 powers of motion. Concentrating all my powers of 
 vision upon the unknown object, I was not long in 
 defining what it was. The ground, although not 
 bare, still was not sufficiently densely covered with 
 herbage to prevent me distinctly observing the 
 length and breadth of a very large puff-adder. I 
 have seen many of these loathsome reptiles, for on 
 the southern edge of tropical South Africa they are 
 in some localities very abundant, but I much doubt 
 if I had ever observed one of such large proportions. 
 From the stealthy, slow way that the snake moved 
 forward, I deemed that it was not alarmed, but in 
 pursuit of prey, so I steadily gazed in front of its 
 course, to learn, if possible, what was its intended 
 victim. For some time my effort was unrewarded, 
 but ultimately I discerned two sand-grouse (Nama- 
 I qua partridge) dusting themselves in a little indenta- 
 \ tion they had scratched in the soil, which, from their 
 manner, were obviously alike ignorant of my intru- 
 sion or their enemy's proximity. Poor little beauties, 
 
 li 
 
96 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT, 
 
 it would have been charity to frighten them, and so 
 caused them to wing their way to some place of 
 greater security ; but I did not do so, the better to 
 learn the ways and artifices of a creature alike 
 dreaded by man and beast. 
 
 Has a snake the power of scenting its prey Bj 
 I never heard this point mooted, but from what I 
 noted on this occasion I believe it has. The birds 
 were directly to windward of the reptile, and with 
 unerring instinct it directed its course for them ; it 
 could not see its prey, for its head never appeared to 
 rise above an inch from the ground. At length the 
 puff-adder was within a couple of feet of the game ; 
 slowly and imperceptibly its body was drawn up 
 into a coil, of which the head appeared the centre, 
 when, with a dart as sudden as it was swift, it threw 
 itself forward. One of the sand-grouse, on rapid 
 pinions, sought safety in flight ; the other for some 
 seconds ineffectually flapped its wings, as if strug- 
 gling to escape, for it was in the grasp of the 
 enemy; but soon these efforts ceased, and all was still. 
 
 I doubt not that the bird was poisoned by Its 
 destroyer's fangs, or why should death have come 
 so rapidly, for there was no crushing process adopted 
 by the foe by enveloping the body with repeated 
 folds ? 
 
 Many a person doubts that poisonous reptiles 
 inject their virus into the animal they seize with 
 the intention of feeding upon. For my part, I do 
 
 I 
 
SNAKES' PREY. 97 
 
 not see how it could be otherwise, for the supply of 
 \ this noxious fluid is stored at the root of the fangs, 
 \ and requires but the slightest pressure to force it 
 through the orifices in the canine teeth into what- 
 ever they lay hold of. 
 \ This puff-adder, which I killed just as it was 
 about to commence its meal, was almost four feet 
 long, and quite as thick round the centre of the 
 body as the upper part of my arm. I did not, on this 
 occasion, as the reader will observe, wait to see the 
 serpent swallow its prey, for I had so often been a 
 i witness of that process that I did not consider a 
 renewed exhibition of the disgusting sight worthy of 
 the loss of time. However, I will describe how the 
 ; operation is performed, for the benefit of those who 
 I have not had the opportunities of witnessing these 
 details of animal life which have been afforded me. 
 The apex of the jaws of all snakes possesses a kind of 
 cartilaginous hinge, enabling each side to act, to a cer- 
 tain extent, independently of the other ; the termina- 
 tions of the teeth, which all point inwards towards the 
 throat, are thus enabled in rotation to take a further 
 I grip of the prey, which being constantly repeated, 
 ultimately passes the victim through the mouth into 
 the throat, in the end, to be sucked into the body 
 by muscular action. This process is pleasanter to 
 describe than to witness ; at least, in my opinion. 
 That all do not think alike on this point can easily be 
 learned by paying a visit to the reptile-house at the 
 
 H 
 
98 BAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 Zoological Gardens, when numbers of cold-blooded 
 wretches will be heard expressing their desire to 
 witness a timid, almost-frightened-to-death pigeon 
 or rabbit meet its untimely end in the folds of a boa- 
 constrictor, m 
 While my people were trecking for the next 
 water, which I was informed would have to be 
 drawn out of pits sunk some distance beneath the 
 surface of the soil, I took my bay horse and made 
 a wide detour, with the double view of getting 
 acquainted with the country and a knowledge of 
 what game was to be found in the vicinity. Soon I 
 discovered that information on the latter point was 
 not likely to be obtained, for the brushwood, far 
 and near, had been trampled down and torn off byj 
 herds of innumerable cattle. After having ridden] 
 close on a dozen miles, I found a vley, rocky and| 
 precipitous on one side, but tramped into a perfect^" 
 quagmire on the reverse. Here were several Bakai 
 lihari, one of whom could speak a little English 
 from him I learned that the immense droves whicl 
 were now passing and repassing to and from thi;. 
 watering-place were the property of Monkoroane 
 Montsioa, and adjoining chiefs, and which had beer 
 driven thus far to the westward to prevent thei 
 being seized or ''jumped" by the hordes of free 
 booting Boers at that time carrying on a war c 
 annexation and extermination against all thos 
 natives who had remained loyal to the Britis 
 

 LUNG SICKNESS, 99 
 
 crown after our disasters in the Transvaal. I am 
 convinced that during the hour I remained by this 
 piece of water not less than several thousand head 
 of cattle were driven up to drink. Among such a 
 drove, as may be imagined, there was a wonderful 
 variety of breeds, the big-horned, awkward, raw- 
 i boned Lake Ngami animals predominating. Still, 
 I these beasts have their value, as they can stand 
 i being deprived of water with impunity when treck- 
 ing across the doorst-land (thirst-land), when better- 
 looking animals would unquestionably perish. The 
 spread of the horns of these Ngami cattle from point 
 to point is sometimes amazing, ten feet and a half 
 being no uncommon measurement. But it is not to 
 be supposed that all the component parts of this 
 drove were equally ungainly, for in its ranks were 
 to be found Zulu, Mashoona, and Fatherland oxen 
 and kine, many of them sufficiently handsome to 
 please the eye of the most fastidious connoisseur. 
 
 I learned from a herdsman that lung-sickness 
 was extremely prevalent among his charges, and 
 that the losses had not unfrequently amounted to 
 leight or ten head a day. This disease, known by 
 scientists as pleuro-pneumonia, is the curse of the 
 stock-raiser who is settled to the north of the 
 colony ; in fact, but for its ravages, fortunes would 
 be too easily made by pastoral farmers. Many 
 i^people believe that it can be cured by inoculation, 
 an operation generally performed by inserting some 
 
loo DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 of the virus under the skin of the tail, when fre- 
 quently that appendage rots and falls off. When 
 this occurs to a beast, it is deemed '' salted," or 
 impervious to future attacks of this disease. 
 
 As far as my experience goes, this is a myth, for 
 as many of my guaranteed " salted '' beasts suc- 
 cumbed to lung-sickness as those I had obtained 
 without a warranty. There cannot be a doubt that 
 this portion of Bechuanaland is capable of making 
 magnificent stock farms ; and, if the land was not 
 called upon to support an excessive quantity of 
 beeves, the disease of which I have just spoken 
 would, in my belief, die out. At the present time, 
 scarcity of water is the great drawback to this 
 locality ; but this need not continue to be so, as I 
 feel convinced that, by sinking wells only a few feet 
 beneath the surface of the soil, an abundant supply 
 of water could be obtained at all seasons of the 
 year. 
 
 I had scarcely left my new acquaintances, when 
 I found evidences in abundance of the havoc lung 
 sickness had made, for numerous were the carcasses; 
 I found on either hand. So plentiful were they^ 
 that I had ceased to take particular notice of thern, 
 and thus approached one with a slack rein aa 
 thoughts that were of far and distant scenes, 
 when my horse nearly jumped from under me, 
 and but for the aid afforded me by his mane, I 
 unquestionably would have kissed mother earth. 
 
 u 
 
VLACKE-VAARK. 
 
 lOI 
 
 After a struggle, and that not an easy one, I re- 
 gained my seat, but it took some minutes before I 
 could induce my horse to settle down into the quiet 
 and respectable paces of a well-behaved animal. 
 The reason of our discomforture was that a vlacke- 
 laark (warts-hog) had dashed out of the interior 
 of a dead bullock, where he had been doubtless 
 enjoying a meal on the deceased animal's intestines. 
 I do not think that the hog meant to charge me ; 
 but it was so surprised at my intrusion, and so 
 anxious to escape, that I doubt much if it knew in 
 which direction it was going, so passed close under 
 my horse's nose. This boar was a disgusting sight 
 to look at, as it was quite caked over with offal and 
 blood. It was many a day after this event before 
 I forgot this brute's appearance, and from whence 
 it had emerged. The oath that I registered at the 
 time of making his acquaintance, that I would never 
 ;ain eat a piece of mature vlacke-vaark, I have 
 religiously kept. 
 
 ^-.-'^V'^'t, ^.-Uk- 
 
 ^t?'-^^^;^/^^-^;^.^^-' — ~»«^<^--^— -: 
 
 rUFF-ADDER AND SAND-GROUSE. 
 
CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 THE PET LIONS AND MY BABOON A FOSTER-MOTHER. 
 
 By Striking a north-east course, after a canter of a 
 few miles, I perceived the tilts of my waggons, on 
 reaching which I found them outspanned beside the 
 water-pits I have previously alluded to. If I had 
 known the repulsive specimen of humanity that I 
 was to see here, I would have given the place a, 
 very wide berth. My reason for saying so is that 
 the man who ladled out the water for the usei 
 of the cattle was the most disgusting object uponj 
 whom I ever set eyes. I have seen many speci- 
 mens of the human family in my time, but this^ 
 one eclipsed all predecessors. In height he stood' 
 over six feet, with a chest so enormous that it was ,, 
 out of all proportion to the rest of his body, which 
 otherwise was not badly formed. But no words can 
 describe his skin : where it could be seen, it was 
 as white as the fairest white man's ; the greater part 
 of it, however, was disfigured by the most dreadful;! 
 leprous-looking sores that can be conceived. The]* 
 
AN UNFORTUNATE KAFFIR. 103 
 
 A retch's eyes were pink as a white rabbit's, while 
 the matted wool which grew upon his head was of 
 a light sandy brown colour. Without a vestige of 
 clothes upon his person, he stood in front of us 
 alternately jabbering like a monkey or tearing him- 
 self with his talon-like nails. Shocking as this un- 
 fortunate creature was to my eyes, he was quite as 
 repulsive to my followers. My Zulu proposed to 
 drive him off and water the cattle ourselves ; but 
 this course, I felt convinced, could not have been 
 effected without considerable difficulty, and a fight 
 
 I or struggle with such an afflicted creature would not 
 have redounded to our credit, even if we had been 
 -Successful ; so the cattle were once more hurried 
 into their yokes, and with many a shout and crack 
 of the whip we hastened forward to the next water. 
 Can any one imagine what a life such an unfor- 
 tunate as this must lead, despised by all, expatriated 
 
 I from his tribe, afflicted by the most loathsome of 
 diseases, and compelled to obtain a precarious 
 sustenance by whatever means in him lay, and, as 
 a consequence, living from hand to mouth ? Such 
 an existence must be the most dreadful that a 
 human being can be condemned to suffer. 
 
 But from such a disagreeable subject let us drift 
 to pleasanter themes. So, if the reader will bear 
 with me, while the patient bullocks toil on under 
 the scorching sun and over the heavy sand, I will 
 continue the narrative of my pet lions. 
 
 h 
 
104 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 The yell that the mother of Leo and Juno had 
 given utterance to had made its impression, and one 
 evidently not immediately to be forgotten ; for the 
 little beasts fought with teeth and claws with such 
 vindictiveness, that it was not without much difficulty 
 they were conveyed to the camp. 
 
 If their conduct had been bad before, it was 
 worse now, for the sight or approach of one of my 
 dogs or oxen immediately drove them into a 
 paroxysm of rage that from its intensity threatened 
 to terminate their lives. 
 
 For the better security of my prizes, I had them 
 placed in a large packing-case, the top of which 
 was secured by numerous strong lengths of hoop- 
 iron, to prevent the possibility of the youngsters* 
 escape. 
 
 Soon after I sat down to breakfast, and scarcely 
 had I commenced my meal, when I saw my pet baboon i 
 stealthily coming along the back of my waggon. 
 Mischief and curiosity were alike blended in his eye 
 and manner ; so, knowing this gentleman's habits ., 
 as well as I did my own, without moving, I watched 'i 
 his actions. 
 
 The case in which the young lions were secured I' 
 was evidently the object that he desired to scrutinize, 
 for, whatever had been the last work myself or 
 attendants had been engaged upon, Mr. Baboon i| 
 ever considered it incumbent on him, immediately 
 we left the scene, to critically inspect our labours 
 
b 
 
 MISCHIEVOUS BABOON. 105 
 
 ^ 
 
 and pass a verdict of approval or otherwise on its 
 execution. 
 
 The cubs by this time had become silent, either 
 from depression of spirits or fatigue. Thus ** Paul 
 Pry" was unaware what the box contained. 
 Stealthily he laid a hand upon its side, and care- 
 fully and gradually raised himself on to the top. 
 This movement aroused the captives, for both 
 simultaneously gave a yell, and the way that baboon 
 jumped and the velocity with which he scuttled into 
 the top of an adjoining tree was truly marvellous. 
 It was quite an hour before the ape recovered his 
 equanimity ; not even the sight of our food — for at 
 all meals he was a constant attendant — could induce 
 him to descend from his sanctuary. 
 
 All the monkey family are perverse, queer 
 brutes. When present at our meals, my baboon 
 was perfectly amenable to the conventionalities of 
 good society, while a solemn earnestness marked 
 his physiognomy that was quite assuring. But let 
 me be called away from the scene for an instant, 
 and immediately there was mischief. Pots, pans, 
 plates, would be sent flying, often the scalding hash 
 or soup over the back of a dog or the rump of 
 an ox or horse, and the dinner space became 
 the scene of the wildest disorder ; while the delin- 
 quent, the cause of all this disturbance, what had 
 become of him ? Probably he would be found on 
 the top of the tilt of the waggon, chattering and 
 
io6 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT, 
 
 mumbling to himself, looking so doleful and unhappy 
 that the uninitiated would believe that he was the 
 most aggrieved sufferer from the disturbance and 
 not the promoter. 
 
 For two days the young lions would not take 
 food, and even showed themselves disposed to offer 
 violence to the hand that tendered it ; but starvation 
 is a great leveller, and knowing this, I resolved to let 
 them have nothing to eat till they took it rationally 
 and gratefully. The third morning they did so, 
 and rapidly disposed of a quart of milk thickened 
 with meal, to the mutual satisfaction of all parties. 
 
 A wolf is said to have suckled Romulus and 
 Remus ; the accuracy of this is doubted by many, 
 but of this my readers may be assured, Leo and 
 Juno were suckled by a goat. 
 
 Among my camp followers was an aged ''Nanny- 
 goat," whose kid was about two weeks old. The 
 child was brutally sentenced to fill the flesh-pots, 
 and its parent, till further orders, told off to perform 
 the unnatural duty of foster-mother. 
 
 In my mind it was easy enough to adopt such a I 
 scheme, but I soon found that the principals had a jj 
 strong objection to following it. 
 
 The goat became frantic when the cubs were 
 put near her, and they in turn appeared equally 
 frightened when they saw her. So ''Nanny" had 
 her legs tied, and her neck and hind-quarters staked 
 to the ground. Still the young lions would not suck .'* 
 
 n 
 
HO IV YOUNG LIONS ARE MARKED. 107 
 
 IBt length I made William hold one and then the 
 other, while they in succession submitted to a perfect 
 douche of milk in their faces. The little beasts licked 
 this off with apparent satisfaction, till ultimately 
 the teat was placed in their mouths, and, through 
 pressure of my hand, the milk was forced to flow ; 
 so, by a little dexterity, the difficulty was overcome, 
 and both parties settled down to the arrangement 
 with praiseworthy propriety. 
 
 After a week, the foster-mother would lick and 
 dress the coats of her charges with as much assiduity 
 as she had formerly exercised over her own child. 
 This advance in feelings of affection was accom- 
 plished in this way. Daily, before the babies were 
 nursed, I saturated their coats with the foster-parent's 
 milk, which she afterwards licked off while they were 
 imbibing their nourishment. 
 
 For a long time there were no disagreements, 
 and all would have gone on satisfactorily till the end 
 of time, had not my pets increased so rapidly in size 
 that the goat was unable to satisfy their demands. 
 Then the kind-hearted foster-parent, scandalized at 
 the appetite of her putative progeny, would spring 
 to her feet and butt them with no light blows when- 
 ever they attempted to suck. 
 
 At the time these young lions were obtained 
 \ they were striped almost as distinctly and regularly 
 as Bengal tigers, but these markings died out soon 
 after I became their possessor. This appears to 
 
io8 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 me to be a freak of nature worth recording, for I 
 feel certain it is known to few except keepers of 
 zoological gardens or owners of menageries. 
 
 As I had several milch cows with my cortdgey there 
 was no want of milk ; and it was surprising what a 
 quantity the little beasts would consume, although 
 mixed with a goodly proportion of porridge made 
 from mealies or Indian corn. 
 
 Of course, this diet could not go on for ever; 
 but I was resolved to keep it up as long as possible, 
 before substituting cooked flesh, by this course hoping 
 to overcome their ferocity. I had prohibited any 
 person giving them blood and raw meat, under the 
 threat of suffering from my utmost displeasure ; and 
 I have reason to believe my orders were long obeyed. 
 
 I had possessed my favourities about two months 
 — for favourites they had truly become, being never 
 spiteful, and ever full of frolic and fun — when they 
 were released, and allowed to enjoy themselves 
 about the camp fire, or obtain shelter from the sun 
 between the waggon wheels, when they were, with 
 one exception, most excellent friends with the dogs. 
 But this was not so much to be wondered at, for 
 all animals associated in this common rendezvous on 
 terms of equality, with the exception of one, and 
 that one was the most unpopular brute, both with 
 man and beast, in the whole camp. Courage and 
 watchfulness were his sole recommendations — good 
 and useful qualities, it must be acknowledged, in 
 
MASTER ZULU. 109 
 
 this wild country — therefore his surliness was 
 tolerated. Zulu, for that was his name, was an 
 enormous dog, possessed of great strength, and 
 looked as If he were a cross between a greyhound 
 and a mastiff, but partaking in appearance much 
 more of the former than of the latter. His speed 
 was considerable, but his powers of scent I never 
 saw equalled ; thus the largest antelope, if wounded, 
 could seldom escape him. But when he did secure 
 his prey, it was no easy or trifling matter to take it 
 from him. The natives dare not attempt to do so, 
 and I never did without considerable dread that he 
 would turn on me. Moreover, his power was so 
 great that there was only one effectual course to 
 pursue with Master Zulu, when he had to be re- 
 moved from the game he had pulled down, that was 
 to choke him. Now, If this formidable hound had 
 turned upon my new pets, at their infantile age, he 
 would soon have made short work of them ; but this, 
 strange to say, he never did, and though by ex- 
 pression and voice, he told them that their room was 
 better than their company, he generally abdicated 
 his resting-place in their favour. 
 
 The lions, however, indicated no fear of the dog, 
 so It was not without considerable anxiety I anti- 
 cipated that a row would some day occur between 
 them. This would have been a sad contretemps^ 
 for I valued both, and would have been sadly 
 grieved to have either injured or killed. 
 
no BAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT, 
 
 When I made short marches, changing camp 
 from one position to another, distant perhaps three 
 or four miles, if the route lay through an open 
 country, I on several occasions allowed the lions to 
 go loose. They never at such times evinced the 
 slightest disposition to stray, but followed imme- 
 diately behind the dogs, who, in turn, followed the 
 horses, and these I kept invariably close up to the 
 rearmost waggon. Now, the dogs would frequently 
 walk abreast of each other — at least, as many of 
 them as the breadth of the track would permit ; but 
 the lions never would, the female always going first, 
 and the male following close behind, placing his feet 
 almost exactly in the spoor of his sister. This is 
 evidently a teaching of Nature, for it is invariably 
 adopted by the mature beasts of this race, and 
 why ? — to disguise their number, I think, and make 
 the least possible noise in passing through cover. 
 
 To further elucidate this matter, one day when I 
 was idle I coupled them both together, after the 
 manner of setters or pointers, and soon I had reason 
 to regret what I had done, for the brother and sister, 
 who never seemed to have aught but the deepest , 
 love for each other, commenced such a desperate 
 battle that it required all our combined efforts to get 
 them separated. I was truly grieved for this misad- 
 venture, for many days elapsed before they mutually 
 appeared restored to their former affection. 
 
 The female, I noted, harboured vindictive 
 
9 
 
 JUMBO'S TRICKS, in 
 
 feelings the longest, and, strange as it may appear, 
 I have often noted this peculiarity to be not alone 
 confined to the weaker sex of inferior animals. 
 
 It was some time before the baboon would make 
 friends with the new additions to the camp, but in a 
 happy moment he discovered that their thick soft 
 coat harboured fleas ; and so, to secure the privi- 
 lege of sporting in such a happy hunting-ground, 
 for the time being assumed his best behaviour. I 
 was present when he made his ddbut, and it was 
 comical in the extreme. The day was warm and 
 oppressive, and all the animals, with the exception 
 i of the ape, were reclining wherever they could 
 obtain the greatest amount of shade. The sail of 
 the waggon was fastened from one of its sides 
 to uprights stuck In the ground, and under it I 
 reclined in my chair, smoking my pipe, the position 
 being most eligible for my observation. I saw 
 Jumbo, for that was the entertaining, mischievous 
 scoundrel's name, descend cautiously from his seat 
 \ on the dissel-booin (pole), and I knew at once that his 
 mind was Intent on something, from the extreme 
 caution he exercised In his movements. At last he 
 approached the lions, who were lying on their backs 
 enjoying their ease with the most total disregard to 
 dignity. Neither of them having indicated a 
 ' knowledge of his proximity, closer and closer ap- 
 i{ proached the baboon, till at length he reached out 
 ; his hand and touched one. No movement followed 
 
113 JDAVS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 this advance ; so, encouraged, he took up a closer 
 position, and in the gentlest manner, with the tips of 
 his fingers, scratched the male's skin. This sensa- 
 tion must have been pleasant, for Leo stretched 
 himself, and involuntarily — apparently — presented a 
 larger surface of his body to be tickled. Jumbo, 
 thoroughly understanding the adage of taking 
 an ell when an inch was offered him, forthwith 
 commenced a search, still keeping up the scratching 
 process. The young lion now raised his head, took 
 a surprised look at the ape, but either not dreading 
 any danger from him, or appreciating the attention 
 shown him, laid his head down again, and apparently 
 went to sleep. This conduct was sufficient encour- 
 agement to Jumbo, for immediately after he took a 
 more comfortable and closer position, and forthwith 
 commenced his hunt. The preserve evidently was 
 well stocked, from the constant manner in which he 
 moved his jaws, and from his unceasingly giving 
 utterance to a low plaintive murmur, which was in- 
 variably his custom when luxuriating on delicacies. 
 
 The ice was now broken, and scarcely a da) 
 passed, circumstances permitting, but that both the . 
 lions submitted to the baboon's attentions. That 
 familiarity breeds contempt was well worth noting 
 in this acquaintance, for soon Jumbo learned to pull 
 his friends about in such an audacious and rude 
 manner, that I constantly expected to see a break 
 in the entente cordiale. 
 
NATURE A WONDERFUL TEACHER. ir3 
 
 Poor old Jumbo ! he was a useful beast after his 
 way. He did his best to keep the horses and 
 bullocks free from ticks. However, this penchant 
 wMs not actuated by unselfish motives, for he de- 
 voured with great gusto all the repulsive parasites he 
 1)1 Licked off them. At nicrht he was far more 
 watchful than the best dog I had, and neither man 
 nor beast could approach the camp without his 
 :hallenging them with his deep booming bark. His 
 ^eat on those occasions was the top of the waggon 
 :ilt, which he never left from sunset to sunrise, 
 except when on the line of march. William and the 
 Jthers said he slept with one eye open ; if so, that 
 ;)ne eye was worth half a dozen of ordinary persons. 
 
 It was unnecessary to tie Mr. Baboon up, as far 
 IS his security was concerned ; but the difficulty was 
 hat during daylight it took half the camp to look 
 ifter him and keep him out of mischief. During 
 he night, if he heard any of the members of his own 
 ace barking, he would answer them in a most 
 ■mphatic, wild, angry voice ; but if, during the day, 
 le should see any of them, even when far off, it 
 vould almost drive him frantic with fear. This I 
 lever could account for, unless he knew that if they 
 ;ot hold of him they would treat him as a deserter 
 nd sacrifice him for that crime to their wrath ; but 
 ow, again, could he know this, as he was captured 
 /hen quite a baby ? Truly Nature is a wonderful 
 2acher ! 
 
 I 
 
114 jDAVS and nights BY THE DESERT. 
 
 About this time affairs went on most har- 
 moniously ; game was plentiful, and, therefore, meat 
 abundant, so that frequently hunting was not under- 
 taken. Excessive and good living, as it invariably 
 does in these parts of the earth, made my followers 
 indolent, careless, and saucy, so I determined to treck 
 nearer to the fly country. I had called up William 
 to discuss the proposed move, and had commenced 
 giving him his instructions, when there took place a 
 fearful row on the off-side of my waggon, dogs 
 barking, one of the lions yelling, and Jumbo chatter- 
 ing as if possessed of a fit of ague ; and no wonder. 
 The baboon had leaned down from the back of the 
 waggon and had Juno's tail in his grasp, holding on 
 like grim death, and adding further to the torture he 
 was inflicting by biting its termination whenever the 
 victim made a fresh struggle I fully expected to 
 see all the dogs turn on the lady, and doubtless 
 such was their intention, but my voice quelled the 
 prospect of riot. Still, the ape did not release the 
 captive. William flew for the whip, but Jumbo, per- 
 ceiving what was coming, for he had before become 
 acquainted with its persuasiveness, let go his hold 
 and took shelter in the thick top of an adjoining 
 tree, from which sanctuary he did not venture, ancf 
 then with very great diffidence, until supper w;ai| 
 served. The scoundrel knew he had done wroi 
 as well as any child would ; still, the demon 
 practical joking was so thoroughly instilled in hii 
 
JUMBO'S PROPEXSITIES FOR MISCHIEF, 115 
 
 tliat next moment he would go and repeat it if out 
 of sight or beyond reach of remonstrance. 
 
 However, poor fellow, it will not do to be too 
 hard upon him, for many a kick he got from the 
 cows that had calves, and many a knock from the 
 cimp followers. The last I strictly forbade, but my 
 order was not always easily enforced, for Jumbo 
 invariably brought the punishment upon himself as 
 retaliation for some liberty he had taken. Thus, if 
 one of my followers — it mattered not whether man 
 or woman (in fact, I think he preferred the latter to 
 practise his jokes upon) — made their appearance in a 
 new kaross (skin blanket), he was certain to watch his 
 chance, and when such offered seize it, when he would 
 seldom relinquish his hold upon their late purchase 
 till he had effected a big rent in the valued garment. 
 
 Again, none of their ornaments were safe from 
 Ins all-seeing eyes, for if not closely watched, he 
 would grab them and carry them to some inacces- 
 sible place, where, with many a grimace and air of 
 intense satisfaction, they would be pulled to pieces. 
 When it is known by the reader that strings of beads 
 are the most valued of the property these people 
 possess, it can be understood that it would be scarcely 
 !^n-atifying to their feelings to see them unstrung and 
 scattered to the winds. But here I must leave the 
 young lions for a time. 
 
CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 BAKALIIIARI HUNTERS A GRATEFUL NATIVE. 
 
 If I had been aware of the heavy extent of sand 
 that was before us, and the Httle water to be 
 found in it, I doubt much that I should have 
 given orders for renewing our treck before a 
 heavy fall of rain had occurred. The consequence 
 •was that we got into difficulties before sundown, 
 from many of the oxen refusing to draw. How- 
 ever, by coaxing, accompanied by a due amount 
 of threats, at length we reached firmer ground. 
 But here, through losing the path, we became 
 puzzled, if not lost, in a large extent of thick 
 brush, which in many places exceeded in height 
 the tilts of our waggons. Again a halt was called, 
 to endeavour to ascertain where we had left the 
 trail ; but the undergrowth being dense, this was 
 not discovered until too late, for the cattle, now 
 having become cold and stiffened from their pro- 
 longed inaction, refused to proceed. Thus we were 
 forced to make a night of it in as objectionable an 
 
 li 
 
AiV UNINHABITED COUNTRY, 117 
 
 outspanning locality as it has ever been my misfor- 
 tune to be forced to remain In. Jackals and hyaenas 
 were numerous in the vicinity, and frequently gave 
 evidence by their various calls that they were not far 
 distant from us. As none of our bullocks had been 
 previously in the lion veldt, or even in a district 
 where these pests of the stock-farmer exist, It made 
 them all excessively uneasy, prevented them lying 
 down, and on two occasions induced an attempt at 
 a stampede, which was only frustrated by all hands 
 turning out, reassuring them by our voices, and at 
 the same time keeping large fires burning on both 
 sides of the restless beasts. 
 
 My servants thought, and so did I, that water 
 was not very far distant, but the mischief was, none 
 knew where to go and seek It. Several attempts 
 were made, but all proved futile, thus the morning 
 star was w^elcomed with almost inexpressible pleasure. 
 When the grey dawn had succeeded In estab- 
 hshing itself, we found that we were not so badly off 
 as had formerly been conceived, so half an hour at 
 most saw us leaving the bush and ascending the 
 side of a magnificent extent of rolling veldt. After 
 a short search in daylight, I found the lost trail, 
 which, after seeing my belongings regain, I started 
 on horseback with the hope of coming across some 
 natives. In every direction evidences that cultiva- 
 tion had once existed here were apparent ; but I 
 traversed several miles before finding anything to 
 
ii8 BAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 denote that tillers of the soil now resided in the 
 locality. i 
 
 At length I found some human footprints. 
 They were quite fresh, and unquestionably those of j 
 hunters, for the reason that I found several bowers, ! 
 which had been formed to set guns in, for the pur- 
 pose of destroying animals that were injurious to 
 their flocks. Turning a corner sharply, however, I ii 
 rode almost on the top of these people, who seemed | 
 uncertain whether to bolt or make a stand of it. If 
 I had been a Boer, they doubtless would have done 
 the former ; but, discovering that I was not, they 
 plucked up courage and permitted me to interview 
 them. I found them very fine specimens of their 
 race — Bakalihari — and quite willing to be obliging 
 when the promise of a present was made them for 
 their services, so one took me in charge to show me 
 the nearest water, while the others returned to pilot 
 my people to it. On my route to the promised vley 
 I passed by the side of a native station. It was 
 composed of not more than a dozen huts, and was 
 surrounded by the most formidable thorn fence that 
 I had yet seen. This sight rather pleased me than 
 otherwise, for it told, in very expressive words, that 
 we had entered a country where the large carnivorcB 
 were not scarce, and consequently the game they 
 fed on was probably abundant. About this station 
 and within its environs were some of the finest 
 mimosa trees I have noted In this part of Africa, the 
 
A DESERT WELL. 119 
 
 summits of which were hung with immense quantities 
 of mealy heads, proof that the harvest had been 
 abundant, and that the residents were not in want 
 of food. 
 
 But prosperity did not appear to have had the 
 effect of producing cleanHness, for the whole of the 
 Inclosure was such a mass of muck, produced by the 
 constant treading of the cattle that were here shel- 
 tered at night, that It looked actually perilous to 
 cross over, for fear of getting stuck in the glutinous 
 mixture. A wild and rough ride through a very 
 rugged kloof, the path of which In many instances 
 was almost as bad as a staircase, from the ridges of 
 rock that traversed it, brought me, with thankful- 
 ness, in view of the water. The bush that clothed 
 either side of this kloof was remarkable for Its 
 height and the density of its growth, in many parts 
 appeared to be matted together by numerous creepers 
 and different varieties of parasitic plants. My horse 
 beino^ at that time unshod, he made rather a mess 
 over such a roadway, and several times nearly came on 
 his nose, when broken knees would almost inevitably 
 have resulted to him. Such a country as this, with 
 water close by, cannot have failed at one time to 
 have been a special haunt of all the larger beasts of 
 the chase. 
 
 I searched the margin of the fountain for spoor, 
 but the surface of It being composed of slaty 
 stone, lying In thin layers In gradually decreasing 
 
I20 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 elevation till the water was reached gave no signs 
 of visits from any animal. No wonder, for the 
 hardest hoof could not have made impressions upon 
 it. My companion was far from an unpleasant 
 one under ordinary circumstances, but when he had 
 smoked a pipe or two of my tobacco, filled his capa- 
 cious nostrils with very pungent '' Irish blackguard," 
 and imbibed a soupje of brandewein, he became 
 quite a jovial fellow. I regretted much, as I have 
 often done previously, that I did not understand 
 more of the language of these thorough sons of 
 Nimrod, for I am certain I should have been enriched 
 by some extraordinary stories of hunters' successes, 
 or marvellous escapes in I'encontres with the car- 
 nivorce. I do not know that all experience an intui- 
 tive knowledge that certain persons are near them 
 before they have been seen. I feel convinced that 
 I often do. Suddenly a thought struck me. What 
 a time the waggons will have coming down the 
 staircase I have so lately descended ! When bump, 
 bump, bump, I distinctly heard echoed from the 
 hillsides, quickly followed by many an oath in broken 
 Dutch and Kaffir hurled at the head of the over- 
 abused voer-loper, in the easily recognized voice of 
 my Hottentot driver. 
 
 There was work to be done before our heavy 
 loads reached the fountain, and, as natives are never 
 too careful when the eye of the baas is not upon 
 them. I went to take a general supervision of the 
 
AN AGED CHIEF. 121 
 
 transport department's proceedings. I was in the 
 nick of time, for, by all that's precious, the bullocks 
 were already nearly at a trot, and not a soul behind 
 
 Ke waggon to put on the break. 
 With a few polite expressions of disapproval, 
 issibly uttered in excited tones, I soon got the 
 
 I break jammed hard down, and the skid under the 
 
 I wheel. This suddenly caused a halt, but the treck- 
 tow was unequal to the jerk, so parted ; and the 
 oxen, delirious with excitement and thirst, possibly 
 
 : tinctured with a feeling of pleasure at playing the 
 driver and voer-loper a trick, did not halt till 
 they were standing belly deep in the fountain^ 
 gulping down Its refreshing pellucid contents. The 
 gradient was so steep that no oxen were required 
 for the waggon to accomplish its journey. When 
 the breaks were taken off, It made the descent 
 without further assistance than Its own gravity. 
 But such a job as this has to be carefully performed, 
 for if duffers, on whom all the duty of guiding 
 
 i depends, are placed at the dissel-boom (pole), there 
 is no saying what disaster might happen. I have 
 known, in similar Instances, or, perhaps, worse ones 
 than this, for It to become necessary to fasten the 
 treck-tow to the after axle, and thus put a check upon 
 the waggon literally trying to run away from you. 
 
 While discussing the propriety of remaining 
 where we were that night, a very old native, who 
 turned out to be chief of the adjoining station, paid 
 
122 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 US a visit, his object being to get one of us to 
 go and see his sick wife. Although in dread of 
 the filthy state of the kraal, I consented. (Perhaps 
 I should here say that all these people consider 
 white men are born skilled in medicine.) Well, 
 we trudged up the hill, entered the enclosure, and, 
 through a very diminutive door, glanced into the 
 dark interior of a hut. Scarcely had I done so, 
 when such a storm of flies greeted me, that I was 
 compelled to withdraw. I have seen these plagues 
 numerous in many places, but this occasion beat 
 all past experiences. If the Egyptians had had 
 these loathsome and troublesome insects sent to 
 them in such quantities, I wonder, instead of letting 
 the Israelites go, they did not kick them out incon- 
 tinently. I am always willing to do an act of 
 kindness — I may say more, I desire It ; but enter ; 
 that hut I could not, unless these filthy insects were 
 entirely removed or much reduced in numbers. ; 
 Fortunately, my Hottentot was with me to interpret 
 to the old chief my objection to go inside. I 
 feared for a moment that the veteran would be I 
 offended ; but not he. The old man comprehended 
 the situation in an instant, and gravely, but politely, ' 
 requested me to remain. Then, whistling, in a few 
 seconds a youngster presented himself, who received 
 a message, and departed forthwith, through mud 
 and filth, at a pace worthy of a professional runner. 
 About the time I had finished a pipe, half a dozen 
 
A NOVEL WAV TO EXPEL FLIES. 123 
 
 of the Stupid, long-legged, and extremely docile 
 Kaffir sheep were driven into the compound. Each 
 of these animals in rotation was caught, and 
 plastered over with the thick soured milk of which 
 all the natives are so fond. Then the animals were 
 driven to the door of the hut, and there retained 
 by a dwarf herd boy, while several others, with 
 the old man at their head, entered the domicile, 
 each armed with a branch of brush, and, from the 
 noise that was heard to proceed from the interior, 
 it was apparent that the flies were getting " fits." 
 The insects came forth from the door like a swarm 
 of bees, not to depart in peace, but to alight in such 
 masses upon the unfortunate quadrupeds outside as 
 to make each of them, if not absolutely black, quite 
 a pepper and salt colour. I will not say that the 
 sheep liked being treated in this way, but they 
 submitted to the inevitable. Thus, being utilized, 
 they were slowly driven off, bearing upon their 
 bodies their living freight. Soon after, I entered ; 
 and although I cannot say that no flies remained, 
 they were sufficiently reduced to permit me to 
 inspect the old lady without inconvenience. Poor 
 old woman ! the most skilful medical man could 
 have done nothing for her. Slie was literally worn 
 out with age, and but a few days remained before 
 she would join the great majority. Yet the first 
 thing she demanded was tobacco and snuff, both 
 of which I was able to supply her with, when her 
 
124 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 eyes brightened up most marvellously. I had 
 thought her inca'pable of moving. In this I was 
 mistaken, for when I tendered her a very mild 
 soupje of brandy, she turned round towards me 
 and jabbered a few words expressive of her thanks 
 and delight. Her aged husband quite won my 
 respect, from the gratitude he evinced towards me 
 for my good offices ; and, as proof that more than 
 mere gratitude of words is known amongst these 
 people, later on he brought a kid to the waggon, 
 not, as he expressed it, to sell, but as a present 
 for my attention. I further gladdened his heart 
 with some more tobacco and snuff, with an addition 
 of coffee and sugar — luxuries these people have 
 learned to know and appreciate from occasional 
 contact with the Boers. 
 
 This vley has quite a history attached to it ; it 
 was long the most favoured of Gordon Cumming's 
 hunting grounds, and in its vicinity every descrip- 
 tion of large game was killed by him. The old 
 chief remembered him well ; and when I informed 
 him that I had seen the big Highlander many 
 times in London and elsewhere, his wrinkled visage 
 became suffused with pleasure. But when I finallyJ 
 told him that the great hunter was dead, sadness^ 
 seemed to overcome him, and he scarcely spokej 
 another word, but soon after departed to his kraal,j 
 looking — possibly in my imagination — far less] 
 youthful and elastic in his gait. 
 
CHAPTER XV. 
 
 A PICTURESQUE CAMP — A GALLANT HOUND. 
 
 HE new camp was reached after two days' most 
 [edious travelling, for the sand was heavy and water 
 ►carce. But when it was gained, for picturesqueness 
 )f situation it was all that the most fastidious could 
 lesire. In fact, there are few fairer lands to look 
 ipon than that to the north and west of Pitsani. 
 
 ►ut there was one drawback. Far too much bush 
 Surrounded the outspan to make it a residence that 
 
 ^ould be safe from the visits of wild animals. 
 
 In making our kraal, for I insisted that it should 
 
 )e a most substantial one, the bush in the immediate 
 
 ^icinity got considerably lessened, and keeping up 
 
 large supply of firewood for the camp s use also 
 
 irther cleared the surrounding land ; so, little doubt- 
 
 ig but that game was plentiful in the vicinity — in fact, 
 :he abundance of spoor we could see told us so — I 
 resolved to make this a resting-place for a time. 
 
 An event occurred here which I think worthy 
 >f mention ; but, before going further, I would say 
 
126 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 that there are two dlstnict species of hyaenas 
 common to this part of the country. First, the 
 ordinary striped one, which is by far the most 
 numerous, and seldom exceeds twenty-four inches 
 in height at the shoulder ; the other is spotted, and 
 is not unfrequently a foot higher than the first 
 mentioned, but, fortunately, these formidable big 
 brutes are comparatively scarce. The former con- 
 fine their attentions to dead or severely wounded 
 animals, while the latter not seldom will attack 
 women, arid often carry children away from the kraal 
 of their parents ; they have even been known, 
 where they have . discovered hunters or travellers 
 lying asleep at night, to tear off the cheek of the 
 unsuspecting, victim, and this is done so rapidly that 
 the disfigurement "takes place before the sleeper has 
 ■time to .prevent it.. The enormously powerful jaws 
 of these animals enable them to break with ease the 
 largest bones of ih^ gtiadrumana. 
 
 HaVidg.said so much of them, I will mention the 
 incident- that, occurred which will give some idea of 
 the ferocity and strength of my gallant hound, Arack. 
 Towards sunset, T severely wounded a gemsbok, or 
 oryx. Being some distance from my camp, I re- 
 solved to delay its pursuit until the following morn- 
 ing. Accompanied by Arack, I started at sunrise, 
 but, as luck would have it, a steinbok sprang from 
 a bush almost at my feet, and the brave but dis- 
 obedient hound went in pursuit. To have shouted 
 
Gemsbok {Gryx Capensis). 
 
I 
 
 A BRAVE HOUND. 127 
 
 myself hoarse or black in the face would not have 
 
 I ^called him ; so I pushed on to where I knew I 
 ^ould pick up the spoor of the wounded game. 
 [n discovering it, I found the trail so saturated with 
 lood that I knew well the quarry could not be far 
 Istant. The brush here had given place almost to 
 a barren flat, over which I cast my eyes, hoping to 
 see the carcass of this beautiful representative of 
 the South African antelopes. About a hundred 
 yards distant, there it lay, but beside it was a large 
 spotted hyaena, enjoying the meal that my rifle had 
 provided. It is bad enough to have your provender 
 wrested from you by a respectable kind of creature, 
 but when such is being done by one of these foul 
 carnivores, it is unbearable. 
 
 I was about to give the marauder the contents 
 of one of my Express barrels, when Arack, with a 
 rush, passed me, going towards the buck as straight 
 as an arrow. The dog did not appear to see the 
 hyaena till he was within a few paces of it, when, 
 moderating his gait to a slow trot, not unlike a setter 
 drawing after running game, with his lips curled, 
 and showing his fangs, he made direct for the thief. 
 But the night prowler was not thus to be intimi- 
 dated, so turned and faced the enemy, exhibiting 
 his ivories, and assuming a cast of countenance 
 which indicated plainly enough that he considered 
 possession nine points of the law, and was deter- 
 mined to fight to maintain this dictum. I did not 
 
128 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 wish my dog mauled, and much I doubted his 
 power to conquer such a formidable antagonist ; but 
 so directly was he in my line of fire that I was com- 
 pelled to hold my hand. On Arack's part there was 
 no hesitation evinced in engaging in the combat ; 
 he had thrown down the gauntlet, and the other 
 had taken it up, and, to the honour of the dog species 
 may it be said, he was determined to win or die to 
 support the reputation of his race. 
 
 The hound obtained at the first effort a splendid 
 grip ; it was just above the shoulder, close to the 
 root of the neck, and, from his performances on 
 former occasions, I was aware it would take almost 
 superhuman efforts to force him to relax it. The 
 hyaena was the heavier of the two, and this gave 
 him a temporary advantage, but agility was on the 
 side of the hound, thus they rolled over and over, 
 each alternately being uppermost. What I dreaded 
 most was that the dog's opponent would secure a 
 hold of one of his legs, and evidently Arack thought 
 the same, for he studiously kept them out of reach. 
 Although I hurried up to rescue my companion, 
 when I arrived on the scene his antagonist was all j 
 but done for and quite powerless for mischief. So, 
 to put an end to the contest, I gave the hyaena a 
 barrel at the butt of the ear. After receiving the 
 shot, the blood flowed copiously, and, strange to say, 
 the moment the gallant hound smelt it, he released 
 his hold, and nothing would induce him to approach 
 
I 
 
 THE HYJENA'S DEATH. 129 
 
 his fallen foe. Dogs will eat putrid carrion when 
 nothing better is to be obtained, but this wretched 
 beast had lived upon it from choice for the natural 
 period of its existence, and its ancestors, doubtless, 
 had done the same before, thus its system was so 
 impregnated with the noxious exhalations resulting 
 therefrom as to be too much even for a dog to stand. 
 
 K 
 
CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 A QUIET STALK — SUCCESSFUL SHOTS. 
 
 I 
 
 In many parts of this remote portion of Africa I 
 have come across natives who knew well the mighty 
 Nimrod, some even that have hunted with him, 
 and one and all agreed that he was the bravest 
 and most daring white man they ever knew. To 
 them I have recounted the principal episodes which 
 he narrates in his work, and which have been 
 condemned as utterly improbable, nay impossible, 
 by many of his countrymen ; but one and all, , 
 without a single dissenting voice, attested to their 
 truth. Sicomey, the father of Khama, now king 
 of Bamangwato, when a fugitive at Matchaping's, 
 told me of deeds performed by Gordon Gumming, 
 which, if possible, outrivalled those he has recounted ' 
 in his work ; and I have often thought that these 
 were withheld from the British public for the reason 
 that he had not authentic witnesses to produce who 
 could endorse his statements. 
 
 A quiet night, early in the yoke, and I soon 
 got clear of the rough country. The veldt before 
 
ti ■ A ''STILL hunt:' 131 
 
 e was so attractive, that I had the mare saddled 
 up and started for a ''still hunt." Although very 
 few waggons pass this way, game, somehow or 
 other, has become so suspicious of them, that it is 
 ever well to get a few miles between your transport 
 and yourself. I chose the westward, for it is there 
 less known, and on this occasion the wind suited 
 better. On passing over a ridge, a piece of open 
 grass land, about an acre in extent, lay beneath me. 
 On it were half a dozen scattered bushes, none of 
 them of a size greater than would reach to a man*s 
 waist, so that nothing occurred to prevent my 
 taking a thorough survey of this oasis. 
 
 Noting a sudden and impressive pointedness 
 in my pony's ears, and that her eyes gazed in one 
 direction, I followed the hint thus imparted to me, 
 and, to my surprise, saw no less than twenty of 
 those elegant and most beautiful antelopes — stein- 
 boks — playing together like so many rabbits in a 
 warren. I jumped off to shoot at the nearest ; but 
 the mare, jerking back, disarranged my aim, and 
 my rifle exploded in the air. I mention this inci- 
 dent from the circumstance that I never previously 
 met more than two or three of these gems of the 
 animal creation together. 
 
 Crossing over the grass, and ascending the 
 opposite side, I dismounted, and carefully approach- 
 ing the crest, gazed over the champaign. My 
 prudence had its reward, for not over two hundred 
 
132 DAVS AND ALIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 yards distant grazed in a scattered formation a 
 
 dozen or more of that handsome species, the 
 
 sassaybe, or bastard hartebeest. The wind suited, 
 
 as did the ground for a stalk, so I retired from 
 
 my place of observation, led the mare back to the 
 
 meadow I have previously mentioned, and, making 
 
 a d^toui^ to the left, found that I had good cover 
 
 to within a short distance of the game. I never 
 
 remember to have had an opportunity for such an 
 
 easy stalk, and may say that I considered my eggs 
 
 hatched before they were laid, when, unaccountable 
 
 as it may appear, the bucks suddenly threw their 
 
 heads in the air; one gave a shrill whistle — a call; 
 
 which was accepted by all as a note of assembly — 
 
 and off they went, bunched so close together, that 
 
 I firmly believe, if I had followed the poachers* 
 
 plan of firing into the brown of them, I must have 
 
 secured a trophy. Something had alarmed them^ 
 
 there was no dout^t ; yet it was impossible that 
 
 they could have winded or seen me. At the time; 
 
 I supposed that it was a leopard that had crossed 
 
 between the wind and their nobility, on his returr 
 
 i 
 home from his nocturnal wanderings. However 
 
 my disappointment did not last long. I though" 
 
 1 heard the clattering of many hoofs, and looking 
 
 through the bush just where it edged upon th( 
 
 open ground, a large drove of the same animals 
 
 going at their best pace, were about to break covo! 
 
 The distance they were from me could not exceei 
 
A SUCCESSFUL STALK. 
 
 133 
 
 fifty yards. I was neither distressed in wind nor 
 uncomfortably warm ; so I felt an inward monitor 
 whisper to me : *' If you don't shoot straight this 
 time, you are a duffer." 
 
 The game broke into the open exactly at the 
 place I anticipated. They were so numerous, so 
 grand, so reckless, and so brilliant in colour, that 
 the sight would have warmed the heart of any 
 sportsman, even that of the oldest veteran. And 
 shoot straight I did. With the first barrel of my 
 Express I brought the leader, a magnificent doe, 
 to the ground all of a heap ; while the second shot, 
 aimed at a young buck, caused him to spring seven 
 or eight feet into the air, fall upon his head, and 
 turn nearly a complete somersault. 
 
 BECHUANA KRAAL. 
 
CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 A HERD OF GAME — IN A DIFFICULTY. 
 
 My task had been done effectually, no second shots 
 were therefore required to complete my work ; but, 
 although I knew that none of the flesh would be 
 lost, I have no hesitation in saying that I was not 
 happy, for I have an unconquerable aversion to 
 being a slayer. Believe me, reader, I would many 
 times rather see another shoot than do it myself. 
 Of course this Is mere straining at a gnat and 
 swallowing a camel ; but, call It what you like, the 
 feeling exists. 
 
 When I was about to approach my victims, I 
 became aware that more game was coming from thei 
 windward direction ; and, judging from the dust they 
 made, I concluded that they must be, numerically, a 
 most formidable body. So, with bent back, but rapid 
 strides, I cut across an Intervening space of open 
 country, rapidly entered some brush, through which 
 I advanced nearly a hundred yards, and so gained a 
 screen that, unless something unusual occurred, must 
 be in immediate proximity of their future passage.! 
 
I 
 
 VILDEBEESTE, 
 
 At first, for the dust was dense, I could only distin- 
 guish the leaders of the drove, which were vildebeeste 
 and ostriches ; but soon after I recognized not only 
 sassaybe, but also other game, in the herd. I could 
 not have been more fortunate in the selection of my 
 place of observation, for w^hen the cavalcade swept 
 by I should not be over sixty paces from them ; 
 and, if I might judge from appearances, there were 
 over a hundred rampant, excited creatures com- 
 posing it. 
 
 The vildebeeste, as they generally are on such 
 occasions, were the leaders — fierce-looking, heavy- 
 browed, and formidable-horned creatures, bounding 
 and prancing, with their horse-like tails streaming in 
 the air, while ever and anon their inherent curiosity 
 would cause them to turn to the right or left, to 
 enable them to learn what caused their alarm. 
 These antelopes are fleet, enduring, and possess a 
 tremendous lot of vitality, so require a good horse 
 to overtake them and hard hitting in a vital part to 
 bring them down. At a distance they look like 
 small buffaloes ; close at hand their bodies and limbs 
 are so horselike that their bovine appearance is 
 forgotten, and the uninitiated would almost of a 
 certainty decide they belonged to the equine race. 
 Further, the stranger would conclude that they were 
 mad — stark, staring mad — for, of all unaccountable 
 antics performed by animals, those of the vildebeeste 
 by many degrees are the strangest and most 
 
 1 
 
136 DAYS AND ALIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 ludicrous. At one moment each member of a drove 
 will appear to be seized with an unconquerable 
 desire to kill or maim every individual of his species 
 that he can come in contact with, and so engage in 
 apparently the most bloodthirsty conflicts ; but, with 
 equal rapidity, these tactics will be changed, when 
 one and all, in a long, tortuous figure, will follow 
 each other, spinning out the most wondrous labyrinths 
 of intricate manoeuvres. The Boers say they are 
 mad, the result of having maggots on their brains. 
 That they have large larvae contained in a sac in 
 that locality is certain, but I think it more than 
 doubtful that these maggots cause their eccentric 
 gyrations. 
 
 However, in shorter time than it has taken me 
 to write of the game's advance, the whole squadron 
 passed at a rattling pace. Not requiring more food, 
 I resisted firing for some time, but ultimately the 
 temptation to shoot was too great even for me, 
 when a splendid cock ostrich, in full plumage, came 
 abreast of my position. As the bird was detached 
 by some distance from the rest of this mixed 
 drove, he was going his very best pace to place 
 himself on closer terms with them; for, let the 
 reader now know, if he did not previously, that 
 ostriches will almost invariably be found in the 
 society of antelopes or quaggas. 
 
 It is impossible to calculate the speed that these 
 birds can travel for a burst of half a mile ; but one 
 
The Mpala Antelope {A£pyceros Melampiis). 
 
i 
 
 ! 
 
I 
 
 SOUTH AFRICAN SHOOTING. 137 
 
 thing I can affirm, so rapid is the movement of their 
 legs, that you cannot follow them distinctly with the 
 eye. A cock of this family when in full plumage, 
 
 IBid of the wild race, is a splendid prize, being 
 
 BBorth from ^70 to ^80 sterling. So I pitched the 
 
 Bjiresight of my rifle upon the centre of his body, 
 then forged about three feet in front of the quarry 
 before pulling the trigger, when over he went, 
 doing no small amount of injury to his beautiful 
 plumes by the abrupt manner in which he was 
 caused to kiss mother earth. 
 
 ■L A '500 Express, with a hollow bullet and 5 drs. 
 
 ™'f powder, is a wonderful killer of all soft-skinned 
 animals when the range does not exceed two hun- 
 dred yards. After that distance the flight of the 
 hollow projectile becomes very erratic. 
 
 For South African shooting, after you enter the 
 bush veldt, as long as you have not buffalo, elephant, 
 or other thick-skinned beasts to deal with, the Ex- 
 press is the prince of weapons ; but on the last- 
 
 ■pentioned they are comparatively or nearly useless. 
 However, there is no denying that they destroy the 
 appearance of a quantity of the meat in the vicinity 
 of where the bullet has found its billet. On the 
 grass flats of the Orange Free State and other 
 similar localities, where cover is scarce, and game 
 wild, from being frequently disturbed, thus necessi- 
 
 . tating long shots, say upwards of four hundred yards, 
 being made, they are naught but a source of disap- 
 
 i 
 
138 BAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT 
 
 pointment and vexation of spirit, even when the 
 soHd bullet is used. Under such circumstances 
 nothing equals the Martini- Henry, when the ex- 
 tractor and action work freely ; but remember, I say, 
 when ! 
 
 But to return to my subject. The cause that 
 had produced such a panic among the game I now 
 learned was from a large mob of cattle, with a gang 
 of attendants, passing over the veldt, a mile or so to 
 windward. 
 
 Being well satisfied with my day's experience, I 
 turned homewards, but what was my disgust to find 
 that the mare had taken herself off, and in no 
 direction could I see her. I discovered her spoor 
 In places among that of the game, which I doubt 
 not but she had joined, and the length of the tire- 
 some creature's stride, as indicated by her tracks, 
 was sufificient evidence to inform me that she had 
 broken or slipped her knee-halter. 
 
 Now I was thoroughly between '' two stools." 
 If I followed the truant, and she led me "a wild- 
 goose" chase of some hours before she was captured, 
 before I returned the vultures would have destroyed 
 all my game. If, on the other hand, I returned to 
 the game and made it secure from the attacks of 
 these useful but often troublesome birds, I should 
 afterwards have to tramp it to the waggons, when it 
 would probably be too late to send for the meat that 
 day, and on the morrow it would doubtlessly be 
 
■Kii 
 
 FAIRLY BEATEN, 139 
 
 fit for human food, if, perchance, the hyaenas and 
 
 I'ackals did not devour it all during the night. How- 
 l^er, I chose to chance the latter course. 
 I Already the carrion-feeding birds were as- 
 fcmbling. Vultures in dozens were sailing around, 
 Ihite-necked corbiveaux, in their sable attire and 
 clerical collars, were cheekily inspecting my food 
 supply, or sitting on the larger bushes, expressing 
 in their harsh voices the pleasure they felt in antici- 
 pation of a bountiful repast. 
 
 I was fairly beaten ; the marauders had dis- 
 covered what I wished to hide from them, and all 
 the labour I could give till nigh on sundown, with 
 only a hunting-knife to cut cover with, would not 
 prevent the wretches obtaining an inroad through 
 any screen I could erect, the moment my back was 
 turned. 
 H To make the best out of a very disheartening 
 and embarrassing position, I went to the ostrich 
 and denuded its body of all the most valuable 
 plumes. They were easy enough of transportation, 
 and some consolation for my disappointment ; but, 
 even after I had secured these treasures, I still 
 lingered, momentarily becoming more and more 
 wroth from the impudence of the increasing crowd 
 of vultures and the shortness of time that now 
 remained for me to dispute possession with them. 
 But the birds had not alone found me out; on a 
 
I40 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 see two dog-like heads, with large and very full 
 tulip-shaped ears, taking stock of me. Their phy- 
 siognomy was not for a moment to be mistaken. 
 Once seen, never forgotten, is the impression 
 formed by them on man's memory, and, of all the 
 quadruped creation, I certainly dislike them the 
 most, viz., hyaenas, so I thought I would try my 
 marksmanship upon them before I took my forced 
 departure. My first shot was a clean, fair one ; the 
 second sent off the object of my aim, but not before 
 he acknowledged a hit with his voice. 
 
 This little episode had a soothing effect upon 
 my irritated feelings, and I was about to start upon 
 my wearisome tramp, for I had, at the smallest 
 estimate, ten miles to go, when a native stepped 
 out of the bush. That man was welcome ; black 
 as he was, and odoriferous as he was, I could have 
 hugged him. Never did I previously realize so 
 thoroughly that a black man can be your *' friend 
 and brother." 
 
 He immediately comprehended my situation, 
 and, without explanation or request on my part, 
 went for aid. In half an hour quite a crowd was 
 around me. They were the people I had seen 
 driving the cattle some hours before, and had 
 doubtlessly been since asleep while their kine rested 
 during the heat of the midday sun, till disturbed by 
 my last shots. They were a party of Hasesheba's 
 people, several of whom recognized me, and were 
 
I 
 
 TRAMP TO THE WAGGONS, 141 
 
 willing to do my bidding. So the doe and young 
 buck were soon skinned, cut up, and on their way 
 to my waggon, which service I paid for with the 
 body of the ostrich. The price might appear high, 
 but I do not hanker after the flesh of an old bird 
 of this species. The only rival it has in giving jaw 
 exercise is an owl. Between the two it must be a 
 tight race ; if there are any odds, I think I should 
 bet upon the owl. 
 
 I have said that I anticipated that I had ten 
 miles to go before reaching the waggons. I should 
 have been more correct if I had said fourteen or 
 fifteen, for It was nearly midnight ere I regained 
 their friendly shelter, although my companions and 
 myself had pushed on at our very best pace. The 
 tramp was not by any means a lively one, for the 
 night was dark and the face of the heavens, from 
 the heavy scud that was drifting overhead, Indicated 
 a probable near approach of stormy weather. The 
 scent of the meat we carried, moreover, had brought 
 a number of hyaenas and jackals on our trail, the 
 former of which, on several occasions, became so 
 bold as to receive a salute from some of the men's 
 assegais. Whether, In the uncertain light, any 
 successful shots with these weapons were made, I 
 cannot say, although one beast sung out most lustily. 
 When only a short distance intervened between 
 j ourselves and the camp I thought I heard a distant 
 \ note familiar to my ears. Stopping to listen, It was 
 
 ■ 
 
142 DAVS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT, 
 
 not repeated, thus I did not communicate the cir- 
 cumstance to my attendants ; but in ten minutes 
 after, the mysterious sound was renewed, and 
 brought the whole cortege to a halt. From a kopje 
 scarce a mile off, and whose outline could be dis- 
 tinctly seen against the sky, again and again was 
 repeated the deep, distinct, and never-to-be-forgotten 
 roar of the monarch of the brute creation. The 
 gentleman from whose throat emanated this basso 
 profundo music was evidently travelling, and, from 
 the conduct of my attendants, it was obvious to me 
 that they thought it more than probable that he 
 would direct his steps to our vicinity. I spoke to 
 the headman on the subject, and as I did so the 
 tiresome hyaenas and jackals gave additional and 
 more emphatic evidence of their vocal powers. 
 The answer I received was exactly what might 
 have been expected, namely, "If the lion hears 
 these confounded brutes, he is certain to think 
 something is up, some beast to be killed or food j 
 already provided, and so direct his course to where 
 we are." The jackal has been called from time 
 immemorial the lion's provider. There is more l 
 truth in this statement than many suppose; for, if ' 
 these handsome animals come across a wounded or 
 dead beast, they fight with each other so per- 
 sistently around or over it, incessantly bSirking and 
 yelping, that the king of the forest at once knows 
 that food is to be obtained where this turmoil is 
 
ANXIETY FOR MY MARE. 
 
 143 
 
 ■^oing on, so forthwith makes himself acquainted 
 
 Iith the cause of his alHes' disagreements. 
 There was nothing for it, however, but to push 
 rward, which we did with renewed energy, and 
 though our position was not without a certain 
 nount of danger, it occurred very forcibly to me 
 that I might at that time be poorer than I was in 
 the morning by the loss of my sturdy little mare. 
 I had bought her green and quite uneducated ; 
 through kindness she had become an apt pupil, and 
 was as near perfection as any horse I ever owned. 
 She had no faults, and but one deficiency, that was, 
 she was scarcely as fast as I should have desired ; 
 , however, in the country of the very big game, her 
 speed for their pursuit was amply sufficient. 
 
 COKlilVEAUX. 
 
CHAPTER XVIIL 
 
 A PICTURESQUE CAMP A TROUBLESOxME LION. 
 
 The trail of the waggons, which we had struck 
 about half an hour previously, now trended around 
 the base of a large and well-wooded kopje, two 
 smaller ones being opposed to It. On entering this 
 defile, I distinctly heard two heavy shots, and from 
 the sound rumbling along the ground, and the heavy, 
 dull echoes that followed, they were recognized by 
 all as signals being fired from a large-bore gun, with 
 its barrel depressed towards the ground. These 
 shots were repeated several times, and their Increased 
 loudness told that we could not be far distant from 
 those who fired them ; but we were scarcely pre- 
 pared to believe that we were as near camp as we 
 actually were. Suddenly rounding a spur of rocky 
 ground running out into the veldt, we found our- 
 selves within a couple of hundred yards of the 
 bivouac selected by my people. The situation was 
 a most charming one, being upon an Indentation 
 
I 
 
 GREETINGS. 145 
 
 almost as flat as a bowling green, and extending 
 arly half a mile into the hillside. Around the 
 waggons were numerous mimosa trees, so wood was 
 abundant, and the size of the fires, and the ruddy 
 blazes that leaped aloft from them, showed plainly 
 that fuel was not being spared. Many were the 
 greetings we received, for these Africans, as a rule, 
 are a most friendly people, and possessed of much 
 affection for their employers, when they are kindly 
 treated. Of course the strangers whom I brought 
 with me were at once made honoured guests, and 
 such a chattering of tongues, greetings, recognitions, 
 etc., as took place, told distinctly how delighted 
 my own folk were to receive visitors and dispense 
 hospitality. 
 
 The mare, I am happy to say, was all right. 
 She had got home about five o'clock, but her ap- 
 pearance without a rider caused no small amount 
 of anxiety. Darkness, however, was too close at 
 hand to follow up her back spoor and make a search 
 for me, but the first light of the morning was to be 
 devoted to that purpose. Moreover, a further 
 cause of uneasiness had existed ; the lion which we 
 had heard had come down within a short distance 
 of the encampment, and had shown such boldness 
 that the Totty had thrown a firebrand at him, and, 
 
 i as he asserted, ''burnt his whiskers." This being 
 the case, it was feared that I might possibly try to 
 
 \ hunt them up, and in doing so come across this 
 
 L 
 
146 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 obtrusive gentleman, when it was just possible he 
 might take a fancy to try what sort of food a white 
 man's carcass made. It is always better, under such 
 circumstances as getting lost, if it is after dark, 
 not to endeavour to reach your camp, but select 
 the most suitable place obtainable for passing the 
 night, there light your fire, and console yourself 
 with the feeling that you might be worse off, and 
 that, in all human probability, the morrow will see 
 you extricated from your difficulties. 
 
 Before proceeding further, it might be well to 
 describe the general appearance of the sassaybe 
 {Acronotus lunata) more frequently known in the 
 colony as the bastard hartebeest. This species is 
 remarkable for its deep ruddy chestnut brown colour 
 along the back and shoulders, which becomes fulvous 
 and tawny as it approaches the belly, while on the 
 forearm and lower portion of the hind-quarters 
 an obviously blue shade pervades the hide. Its 
 face, which is light chestnut, has a dark, broad 
 line descending from the level of the horns to 
 the muzzle, while the horns themselves, which are 
 deeply annulated, after making a wide sweep 
 outward, have their points turned inwards and 
 backwards. 
 
 At the shoulder, the sassaybe stands nearly four- 
 teen hands in height, while the droop towards the 
 rump must make the animal at least six inches less, 
 if taking a perpendicular line from the hind hoof to 
 
I 
 
 SASSA YBE. 147 
 
 about a foot above the tail. The eyes possess a very- 
 notable ruby tint, and are placed very high in the 
 head ; the nostrils are parted by a half muzzle ; the 
 lachrymal perforations are very indistinct. Although 
 at one time found in great numbers in Bechuana- 
 land, in my experience I have not found that the 
 habitat of this antelope extends to the eastern sea- 
 board. Like the koodoo, it delights in the vicinity 
 of hills, especially where they border upon veldt 
 land covered with open brush or scattered mimosa 
 trees. In former days they were captured in great 
 : numbers in pitfalls by the Bechuanas, but this 
 wholesale mode of slaughtering these noble animals 
 has so lessened their numbers, that this means 
 of taking them is not now resorted to. It is 
 . a disputed point among sportsmen which is the 
 i fastest of the larger species of African antelopes, 
 and I fear that when I affirm that I consider the 
 sassaybe less swift than the hartebeest, many people 
 will differ from me. While on this point, I would 
 say that I have heard persons assert that the oryx, 
 or gemsbok, could not be ridden down. This is 
 contrary to my experience. However, it should 
 always be remembered — and this is, I think, a point 
 that has escaped the notice of many sportsmen — that 
 two animals are seldom hunted under exactly the 
 same circumstances ; thus an eland, if fat, can be 
 brought to a standstill by a fast-trotting horse, while 
 one in low conditi-on will give a well-mounted man 
 
148 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 as much as he can do to overtake it. Again, the 
 nature of the ground on which the chase takes place, 
 must ever make a most obvious difference ; thus the 
 koodoo, in its favourite mountain habitat, will set 
 at defiance the best mounted hunter, but the same 
 animal, if surprised upon the fiat, where the soil is 
 firm and free from boulders, can, under ordinary 
 circumstances, without great difficulty be overtaken. 
 In the northern part of the province of Marico, in 
 the vicinity of a settlement called Brakfontein, ac- 
 companied by a son of Mr. Froude, the historian, in 
 anything but a favourable riding country, for the 
 ground was thickly strewn with boulders, and in 
 portions covered with dense thickets of thorns, we 
 each rode down a sassaybe, and the distance tra- 
 versed by both in this performance did not exceed 
 four miles. If the district had been more suitable, 
 I could have killed my beast in little more than half 
 that distance, for several times, when I attempted to 
 rush up alongside of the quarry, I was prevented 
 doing so from the thickness of the bush. I must 
 add, in explanation of the shortness of the run, that 
 when the game was killed, I scarcely ever saw a 
 fatter carcase. 
 
 Any one would suppose, after such a fatiguing 
 and harassing day as just passed, that I would 
 have slept when I got to my waggon like the pro- 
 verbial top, but no such thing was permitted, for, 
 what with the roaring of the lion (that gentleman 
 
A TROUBLESOME NIGHT. 
 
 149 
 
 iving returned) and the repeated efforts of the 
 :en and horses to break loose, I was obHged to 
 tke my seat by the camp fire, so as to be on hand 
 accidents occurred. Thus, if the reader be not 
 red of the subject, I will finish the history of my 
 it lions. 
 
CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 THE YOUNG LIONS AGAIN — THE DRIVER COMES TO 
 
 GRIEF. 
 
 Well, let me see, where did I leave off? Ay, ay, 
 where the baboon pulled the lioness's tail. 
 
 The night after the ape's performance on Juno 
 I shall ever have cause to remember, for a lion 
 actually came into my camp and carried off a goat 
 from the midst of my kraal, and in performing 
 this feat — inadvertently, I will admit — knocked 
 William head over heels. It was in this way. 
 
 The night was dark, gusty, and threatened rain ; 
 but, as there was a superabundance of meat, my 
 people seemed determined to make a night of it. 
 When I was about to retire to my waggon, I thought 
 I heard a lion calling in the distance ; but, as this was 
 almost a nightly occurrence then, I simply ordered 
 the boys to put plenty of fuel on the fire before they 
 turned in. I had been asleep about a couple of 
 hours, when a tremendous noise among the dogs, 
 
I 
 
 A DARING MARAUDER. 151 
 
 orses, and oxen, capped by the deep voice of 
 
 umbo (the baboon), awoke me. 
 
 Springing from my cartell, gun in hand, as 
 pidly as possible, I gained the front of my wag- 
 on, its elevated position affording an excellent 
 
 lace of observation. 
 
 I instantly saw William passing from one fire to 
 
 e other, but in a moment he disappeared as if shut 
 but of sight by the intervention of a dark cloud. 
 This had scarcely happened, when I distinctly 
 viewed a lion jump the fence that surrounded the 
 camp, with a large object in his mouth. Naturally, 
 the first thought that entered my mind was that my 
 man was the victim. To fire I had no time ; if I 
 had, should I have been justified, with such un- 
 certain light ? I suffered most acute anguish for 
 a few moments, but fortunately no longer, for 
 William joined me, abusing the marauder in the 
 choicest terms he could select from the English, 
 
 utch, and Zulu languages. I congratulated him 
 his escape, and told him my fears ; but even this 
 
 id not seem to pacify him. However, the contre- 
 temps was soon explained : the lion had seized a 
 goat, and in its hurry to escape with its prey had 
 run full tilt against my henchman, and sent him 
 spinning in one direction while his gun took flight 
 in another. He had neither bruises nor broken 
 bones ; but his dignity, pride, and self-esteem had 
 been grievously hurt. So wroth was he, in fact. 
 
152 BAVS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 that it took a considerable amount of persuasion on 
 my part to prevent him entering the bush in search 
 of the object that had caused his indignation. 
 
 The death of the lion's victim must have been 
 immediate, for it never uttered a cry. Thus, by a 
 merciful Providence, the demise of the smaller quad- 
 rupeds is robbed of half its pains, when it occurs at 
 the hands of the '' king of beasts." 
 
 The lion did not go far to enjoy his meal, and 
 from the noise that took place at the repast it was 
 evident several companions had dropped in to sup 
 with him. If yelling and roaring denoted hunger, 
 then these midnight despoilers must have been 
 ravenous. 
 
 But there were other ears listening to this dia- 
 bolical disturbance — ears which seemed to fully 
 appreciate a music which, up to the present time, 
 they had been comparatively unfamiliar with. Leo 
 and Juno, as long as I had known them, always 
 slept the peace of the innocent from sunset to dawn. 
 The early part of this night had been similarly spent ; 
 but, now that they had been roused by the angry 
 disputings natural to their mature species, the devil 
 himself seemed to have taken possession of them, 
 so that they yelled and snarled and fought against 
 their confinement with a determination worthy of the 
 cause of freedom. Certainly the little beasts were 
 not much larger than Clumber spaniels ; but, as an 
 American would express it, they were undeniably 
 
■H a trying night. 153 
 
 *'all there." William vowed that their shrieks would 
 bring the old lions upon us. My followers supported 
 him in his belief, and one cowardly wretch, whose 
 
 tue seemed alone to consist in eating and sleep- 
 more than any two of his comrades, in the 
 most unblushing, cheeky manner, proposed turning 
 the babies loose. This man had his supporters, but 
 I crushed this rebellious symptom at the start, by 
 reminding them, in gentle, persuasive language, that 
 I was '' boss " of the camp, adding, by way of paren- 
 thesis, that I would cktcck the first man, bag and 
 baggage, over the fence that attempted to release 
 the captives. This harangue had a gratifying effect. 
 Still the little termagants kept up their disturbance 
 with unabated vigour, and endeavoured to their 
 utmost to make their infantile throats utter sounds 
 as threatening and loud as their elders. 
 
 The goat did not afford a lengthened repast, 
 for ten minutes after it had been deported the 
 sound of feeding ceased. Another visit to the 
 camp, to obtain a further addition to the feast, 
 might now have been expected ; but the lions, 
 having had time to listen, and possibly to think, 
 recognized the noise of the youngsters, and kept 
 answering them ii%i^such impassioned notes that, as 
 far as my ear could understand, indicated rage and 
 surprise. Nor were we long kept in doubt what 
 was their intention, for first one, then another, 
 growled close to the enclosure — in fact, it was 
 
154 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 evident that we were surrounded — and if our anta- 
 gonists only acted in concert our position must have 
 become hazardous in the extreme. But if there was 
 danger from without, there was no small amount of 
 it within the kraal, for the cattle were rushing round 
 it, evidently searching for a weak place to burst 
 through. 
 
 It was not without some risk of being run over, 
 and possibly trampled to death, that William and 
 myself patrolled the edges of our fence, but the 
 night was too dark to see any object ten paces i 
 from us ; for a lion, even at that distance, is not 
 easily recognized on ' a comparatively clear night, 
 so closely does its colour, after dusk, approximate 
 to the ground and herbage. However, we fired 
 a few shots — random ones they might almost be 
 called. Still, I think my man hit something, judg- I 
 ing from the yell of one of the enemy, that followed 
 immediately upon the report of his gun. 
 
 All the natives have wonderfully good eyes, but j 
 I never met any who had powers of sight equal to j 
 WilHam. Frequently he has pointed out to meji 
 game which I failed to see with the naked eye, [^ 
 even after- 1 had distinctly marked its position with ' 
 my field-glass. 
 
 Well, what with the young lions squealing, the 
 old ones roaring, and the bullocks, goats, and dogs 
 giving expression to their feelings in their respec- 
 tive ways, we all had a lively time of it till day- 
 
I 
 
 POOR JUMBO'S ENEMIES. 155 
 
 reak, when the night prowlers, as usual, beat a 
 retreat, and, with their departure, affairs settled 
 
 twn to their usual quiet. 
 I am convinced, if it had not been for the 
 antity of fuel we had by us, and the magnitude 
 the fires we kept alight, a number of our cattle 
 would have been killed, or, equally possible, some 
 of my party would have lost the number of their 
 mess. 
 
 Despite its dangers and hardships, a hunter's 
 life, particularly in the interior of Africa, has a 
 wonderful attraction for some people ; in fact, it 
 asserts such a magnetic influence over many, that, 
 having once enjoyed it, ever after they have an 
 irresistible craving to resume it. The constantly 
 varying scenery, the novel incidents that are con- 
 tinually occurring, and the spice of danger which 
 is always surrounding you, must, I think, be the 
 causes that produce this fascination. 
 
 KThe result of that night had a most marked 
 ffect upon the conduct of my favourites ; no longer 
 rere they playful, affectionate companions, but in 
 lace became morose brutes, ever looking as if 
 they were suffering from a wrong and had made up 
 their minds to avenge it. 
 
 To them I appeared the least objectionable ; 
 then, in degrees of comparison, came the attend- 
 ants ; but Jumbo, the baboon, raised their indig- 
 nation to such a pitch, that this athletic gentleman. 
 
156 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 on the first indication of the new light in which 
 he was regarded, gained the tilt of the waggon 
 at one bound, there to ponder over his surprise 
 and disgust. 
 
 Here the ape sat and held a monologue, the 
 purport of which doubtless was the mutability of 
 mundane affairs, more particularly of apes. Mr. 
 Jumbo's character I knew so thoroughly, that I was 
 well aware that it was not the loss of his late 
 companions' friendship he regretted, nor was it 
 fear for his own personal safety he dreaded — no! 
 jio such thing ! but that he was ever, in the vast 
 future, to be deprived of the best-stocked hunting- 
 field of well-fed edible game that he had possessed. 
 But the breach was made, and this noble African 
 gentleman, " all of the olden time," would not, or 
 could not, see his way to closing it. Bribery might 
 have done it, but this member of a family so aris- 
 tocratic, that its origin was doubtless coeval with 
 Adam's, would not stoop to so unbecoming a course, 
 although he had daily the example of man before 
 him, using this means to such an end and justify- 
 ing it by the result. 
 
 No. Jumbo was a thorough upholder of the 
 exalted hereditary position his family occupied : to 
 servile manual labour he would never descend, not 
 even when his own personal comfort demanded 
 such a sacrifice. Thus, if he was almost frozen to 
 death, he would not light a fire, or, even when his 
 
I 
 
 A LOVING FOSTER-MOTHER. 157 
 
 teeth chattered with cold, would he soil his hands 
 or demean himself by adding a fresh bough or 
 
 Rck to the smouldering ashes. 
 When the young lions were now released from 
 e confinement of their box, they had to be 
 chained up, but even this step did not prevent 
 them exhibiting the tendencies of their race ; for, 
 if an ox or horse approached them, they would 
 crouch, place their heads between their fore feet, 
 and compress their bodies as if desirous of making 
 themselves unobservable, while their eyes would 
 glare with such intentness of look as to tell but 
 too plainly that the fiendish love of carnage had 
 taken entire possession of them. 
 
 No longer now were my captives regarded with 
 favour. The natives detested them, the horses, 
 cattle, and dogs fought shy of them, and I alone 
 appeared to be able to keep them in subjection, 
 and that was only done by an amount of severity 
 and punishment that was quite repulsive to my 
 feelings. 
 
 Although apparent to all that Leo and Juno 
 re not now to be trusted, there still was one 
 who refused to take warning or advice. This was 
 " Nannie," their foster-mother. As of old, she lay 
 in the sun beside them, and regarded her wards 
 with a jealous care truly touching, although the 
 cubs had become quite as large as herself. In 
 their horse-play, one day, however, they upset the 
 
158 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 old lady's dignity by rolling her over. Such a 
 shock to her amour propre and deportment was 
 not to be submitted to for a moment, so, rising 
 hastily, with sharp and adroitly handled horns, she 
 commenced with a will to administer punishment 
 for their misdeeds. This they submitted to for 
 a short time ; but when at length they could not 
 escape the persistent attacks made by the goat, 
 for be it remembered that they were chained, Juno, 
 immediately followed by Leo, turned upon her, 
 and, in less time than it takes to narrate it, Nannie's 
 neck was broken and a large piece torn out of her 
 hind-quarters. To rescue the carcass from the 
 young savages was no easy matter ; but, by the 
 aid of their chains, they were at length dragged 
 away, but still growling and struggling, and ever 
 clutching with expanded and protruding claws the 
 earth in the direction of their victim. 
 
 That murderous episode had an effect upon 
 the principals engaged in it that was truly wonder- 
 ful and startling, for their whole conduct afterwards 
 became fiendish ; their days were turned into night, 
 and, except when they slept, during the heat of 
 the noon-tide sun, they were ever pacing to and 
 fro, as far as their limited expanse of cage would 
 permit them. 
 
 Their hunger compelled them to eat an ex- 
 tremely moderate-sized ration of bread and milk ; 
 but the reeking flesh which they had once tasted 
 
THE YOUNG LIONS STARTED FOR CIVILIZATION. 159 
 
 had left behind such a craving for a renewal of 
 acquaintance with it, that it was observable in every 
 action of their daily life. 
 
 Jumbo, wise beast, was quick to see that his 
 late friends were in disgrace, and therefore lost no 
 chance of venting his dislike upon them, for with 
 a bound he would jump upon the top of their 
 box, and as rapidly spring from it, jabbering the 
 whole time, as if lauding himself for his prowess, 
 or for having performed a most praiseworthy action. 
 '* Be down on them ; they have got no friends," 
 was evidently a course of conduct this distinguished 
 member of our coterie had adopted. Very human- 
 like ? I ask the reader. But, not satisfied with 
 these escapades, he was detected in trying to force 
 a puppy's paw, and soon after the domestic cat's 
 tail, between the bars that covered the cage of 
 the lions. William administered to him on each 
 occasion such a wholesome castigation with the 
 jambock, that for days he sat and pondered over 
 the supposed injustice he smarted under and the 
 unreliable nature of man's friendship. 
 
 An opportunity occurring at this time to send 
 
 the lions to Prsetoria, via Zoutspansberg, by some 
 
 I Boers proceeding there, I made arrangements for 
 
 my charges to be taken south, the Dutchmen to 
 
 be paid by my agent on safe delivery. In doing 
 
 • business with these superlative blackguards such 
 
 j precautions are most necessary, as the sequel will 
 
i6o DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT, 
 
 show. Through negligence the two escaped from 
 their box. Leo was killed when being recaptured ; 
 while Juno effected her escape, not to enjoy her 
 freedom long, I fear, for she had a strong collar 
 on that must have strangled her before she reached 
 maturity. 
 
 In infancy my lions were delightful pets ; in 
 maturer days they proved a constant source of 
 anxiety to me. Still, I cannot regret the many 
 hours I spent in their society, and the study they 
 afforded me, when time would otherwise have hung 
 heavily on my hands. Then, although my reward 
 was not commensurate with my hopes, I have ever 
 deeply regretted their sad and untimely end, and 
 that the careers of poor Leo and Juno should have 
 ultimately closed so miserably. 
 
 SPRING-BOK. 
 
CHAPTER XX. 
 
 AN OLD REPROBATE — AN EXCITING ADVENTURE. 
 
 Although the night was altogether a most uncom- 
 fortable one, I got two or three hours' sound sleep 
 towards morning, in spite of the chattering and 
 lullaluing of my servants and the new arrivals. 
 
 Soon after break of day, Chummy and myself met 
 at the camp-fire to enjoy our coffee, when it was 
 determined that we should devote the forenoon to 
 searching for his majesty the king of beasts who 
 had disturbed our quiet the previous evening, both 
 by his powerful voice and his desire to appropriate 
 some of our belongings. 
 
 One of the new arrivals, who was listening to 
 our conversation, joined in, and informed us *' that if 
 we could rid the neighbourhood of this lion we 
 should be doing good service to their chief, for the 
 marauder was an old villain, too lazy to hunt, there- 
 fore had taken to killing cattle, and that as likely as 
 not he would soon commence the slaughter of 
 women and children." 
 
i62 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT, 
 
 As long as lions are young, active, and in robust 
 health, the inhabitants have really an objection to 
 their being shot, for the reason that they provide 
 many a meal for the starving bushmen and shep- 
 herds out of the wild ruminants ; but v^hen their 
 prime is over they prefer beef or mutton to game, 
 neither of which requires much exertion to capture. 
 Moreover, when an old mannikin sets this repre- 
 hensible example to his wives and descendants, it is 
 wonderful how soon his family become demoralized 
 and follow in the footsteps of the head of the 
 family. 
 
 Our informant further told us that there was a 
 kraal of bush people a short distance off, at the back 
 of the hill under which we were outspanned, the in- 
 habitants of which could doubtlessly show us where 
 the old gentleman made his head-quarters. So, 
 taking all the hounds, even to Old Bull and the 
 pointer, and all the available people we could 
 muster, some minutes before the sun was up a 
 start was made for the station alluded to. On , 
 arrival at it, the headman was summoned, who \ 
 turned out to be quite a jovial old savage, with a { 
 merry twinkle in his eye, that told plainly that ^ 
 he was fond of a joke and good living. 
 
 Yes, he saw the necessity or the benefit of get- 
 ting rid of the old lion ; but he added, sotto voce, that 
 it was a pity it had not taken his old wives off first. 
 But the whisper was not suppressed enough for an 
 
I 
 
 AN EXTRAORDINARY DISCOVERY. 163 
 
 old, rather than a middle-aged, woman in the chiefs 
 immediate vicinity not to hear the remark, and she 
 opened out such a torrent of abuse upon him that, 
 but for his being a very brazen character indeed, 
 he would have been heartily ashamed of himself. 
 
 While the old lady was working herself more 
 and more into a passion, several young females, 
 whom I deemed to be daughters of the old gentle- 
 man, jabbered, laughed, and clapped their hands 
 with every indication of enjoying the fun, and, 
 would you believe it, the old reprobate encouraged 
 these unseemly actions with many a sly wink or 
 knowing twist of his mouth. The whole proceed- 
 ing was scandalous. Such a want of respect in a 
 husband for the mother of his family, and in children 
 for their parent, I never previously witnessed ; so I 
 inquired from Totty, was that the way young folks 
 treated their mothers in Bechuana-land 1 To this 
 question my man tittered, but when he got his 
 countenance back to its ordinarily ugly semi-serious 
 shape, he vouchsafed me the reply, " Him," pointing 
 to a group of five females, the eldest of whom was 
 under twenty — *' not his daughters ; all wives." 
 
 There is no doubt that many English women 
 have much to put up with from drunken, thought- 
 less, or indolent husbands ; but then they have the 
 sinners all to themselves, instead of, as in this case, 
 a " boom " of younger charmers to support the 
 transgressor in his iniquity. Should our matrons 
 
i64 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT, 
 
 not be thankful for such a blessing ? The readers 
 will see, therefore, particularly if there are any 
 ladles among them, that we possess a degree of 
 civilization, as well as other trifling advantages, 
 slightly in excess of the people of the country of 
 which I am writing. 
 
 However, to the purpose of our visit to this 
 kraal. The old man mustered his clan, and 
 ordered them to accompany us, while he fell in i 
 between Chummy and myself, armed with nothing I 
 more than a slim six-foot walking-stick, with the 
 intention, as he expressed it, of *' seeing his old 
 acquaintance have his whiskers drawn." 
 
 All appeared to have no doubt but that they 
 could show us the Hon, his hunting-ground having 
 been around their village for some time ; but the 
 first cover, a most likely looking place on a hillside, 
 with a northerly aspect, and so facing the sun, was 
 drawn blank. There could be no doubt but that the 
 brute frequently came there, for several lairs were 
 pointed out where the herbage was crushed down, 
 and tawny hair adhered to the bushes. 
 
 At first I believed that the lion had given us 
 the slip, and left the cover as we entered it. But 
 such was not the explanation, or else some of the 
 dogs would have acknowledged the scent. More- 
 over, this hillside fairly swarmed with little buck, that 
 were almost as tame as hares in a deer-park at 
 home, which would scarcely have been the case if 
 
I 
 
 A BAD SHOT. 165 
 
 they had been lately disturbed by the sight or smell 
 of their powerful enemy. 
 
 Afterwards we adjourned to a kloof, pretty well 
 covered with bush, and in parts possessed of very 
 rough and precipitous sides. Here there were the 
 same indications of the brute's presence, but nothing 
 more. We had agreed not to fire at anything but 
 the game we sought, the report to be considered a 
 call of assembly to the place from where it sounded ; 
 so, in case of bad shooting or other causes, aid would 
 be available. But, in spite of this, I became a sinner; 
 nor could I help it. It was in this way. All were 
 walking In a lunette-shaped line, I being on a flank, 
 the left. For some minutes the baboons had been 
 exceedingly noisy, and, at Intervals, making more 
 than usual hostile demonstrations considerably to our 
 front. As a matter of course, I supposed that our 
 intrusion into their domain was the cause of their 
 fuss ; but when I got a momentary glance of a 
 leopard through an opening in the bush, I then 
 knew well what had excited the wrath of the apes. 
 
 Although I used every effort to get a second 
 Few of Master Spots, I was for some time disap- 
 pointed. However, just as we were getting to the 
 end of the beat, and by far the most precipitous part 
 of it, I caught sight of the leopard stealing from behind 
 a rock, pass over a few yards of open bare ground, 
 and then enter a kloof. I fired, but did so too hur- 
 riedly, for the ball struck the ground at least a couple 
 
1 66 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 of yards short, but whether in the ricochet it touched 
 him or some of the spehers from it did, I cannot 
 say, but he uttered a suppressed growl as he pressed 
 with speed for his den. This was a splendid beast, 
 one of the largest and most beautifully marked that 
 I had ever seen, therefore my desire to obtain the 
 skin (one of the best prizes as a trophy, in my 
 opinion, that the game of South Africa yields) can 
 well be accounted for. 
 
 Soon we all assembled at the entrance of a 
 krantze {Anglicey cave), and various were the 
 propositions made to induce the powerful and crafty 
 beast to bolt. But none of them appeared feasible, 
 for the interior consisted of numerous ramifications 
 that led quite a distance along the hillside. While 
 this council of war was being held. Old Bull, a 
 half-bred mastiff, puffing and blowing like a 
 grampus from the excessive and unusual fatigue he 
 had suffered, came up and all but accomplished an 
 entrance into it. But that I was near, he would 
 have done so, for the natives were afraid to put 
 their hands on him ; but such fears did not actuate 
 me, for I seized him by his marlinspike-shaped tail, 
 and, sans ceremonie, dragged him out of the orifice, 
 which, if he had had his way, must ultimately have 
 proved his grave. 
 
 I never saw the honest old fellow show his 
 teeth to a friend before, but to me he did on this 
 occasion, and that for saving him from certain 
 
I 
 
 GIVE UP THE SEARCH. 167 
 
 death. However, no one under the circumstances 
 could be angry with him, when they remembered 
 that it was sheer pluck that prompted him to desire 
 to undertake such a hazardous enterprise. Even 
 Donna, our invakiable and lady-Hke pointer, must 
 look into the cavity the leopard had entered, and 
 but that a rhelm was placed through her collar, 
 and by It was forcibly dragged off, she would doubt- 
 lessly have attempted further exploration. 
 
 The big cat had beaten us. Do what we liked, 
 we could not alter the case ; so we gave it up with 
 a very bad grace. 
 
 There still remained another cover In which 
 the lion was known to occasionally take his siesta, 
 particularly if he had made a kill in its vicinity. 
 It was a tangled covert of very thick reeds and 
 grass, almost an acre in extent, situated at the 
 end of a small vley. As It was dry, and a sharp 
 breeze was blowing, the most effectual and expe- 
 ditious course was determined upon, viz. to set it 
 on fire. No sooner said than done. In ten minutes 
 the flames had consumed the whole, even to the 
 last blade. Still, not a sight of the game we sought 
 was obtained. 
 
 The old chief assured me that there was now 
 no use In looking further for the lion, for when it 
 did not demand board and lodging from him, it 
 usually did from another kraal a few miles distant. 
 So we called up our horses, and with the kindest 
 
j6S days and nights BY THE DESERT. 
 
 of feelings, parted with our good-tempered and too- 
 much-married acquaintance. 
 
 As the day was still young, we determined to 
 separate and hunt till sunset. I chose the west- 
 ward, and as I was on the big bay horse, and he 
 was fresh, soon had several miles separating my- 
 self and my friend. 
 
 It was one of those bracing days that at home 
 we often enjoy towards the end of spring, but too 
 seldom have In Africa, and I felt that indescribable 
 longing for some excitement and exercise that would 
 tax my utmost capacity of endurance. 
 
 By this time I had reached the brow of a spur 
 leading from one of the hills, so I dismounted to 
 have a look over Its crest, when my caution was 
 rewarded, much to my satisfaction, by a view of two 
 splendid bull gemsbok. These magnificent animals, 
 only inferior in beauty, In my opinion, to the koodoo, 
 were about two hundred and fifty yards oft'. The 
 wind perfectly suited me to stalk them ; but, unfor- 
 tunately, there was not as much cover between 
 me and them as would have hidden a partridge, 
 and the antelopes kept feeding up wind, thus in- 
 creasing the distance between us. No time was to f 
 be lost if I desired to be successful, so I withdrew 
 the hollow bullets from my Express* and Inserted \ 
 solid ones into its chambers. As the game had 
 
 * A -450, made by Tolley, of Conduit Slreet ; a better weapon 
 than which I never owned. 
 
HANDSOME ANTELOPES. 169 
 
 creased Its distance from me by some yards, I 
 solved to put up the three hundred yards' sight 
 d aim low. Both beasts were facing about a 
 ree-quarter turn from me, so I selected the 
 arest, and aimed at the edge of the white and 
 lack line that indicates the commencement of the 
 omach and termination of the ribs. With the 
 report the splendid beast fell, without a moment's 
 pain, for there was not a struggle after It toppled 
 over. Its companion turned round, and for some 
 seconds looked at the victim with surprise, then 
 continued feeding as if nothing had happened. 
 I can hear the feeling and kind-hearted reader ask 
 the question, " You were surely not cruel enough to 
 shoot It too ? '' Yes, I was. But I had an excuse 
 for so doing, If what I am going to say can be 
 accepted as such, viz. that I wanted both the horns 
 of these fast becoming rare animals, for I had 
 previously never seen finer ; and further, not a 
 particle of the meat would be wasted, seeing how 
 
 Riany hangers-on were about my camp. Well, I 
 )ok a careful sight for the top of the black mark 
 n the thigh of the second beast, for the quarry was 
 I almost broadside to me, and when I pressed the 
 trigger the beautiful creature sprung into the air, 
 pitched forward on Its fore legs, fell, then recovered 
 ' itself, regained its feet, and took off across the veldt 
 at such a pace as made me feel very far from certain 
 j that I should bag my game. Putting In fresh 
 
170 DAYS AA/D NIGHTS BY THE DESERT 
 
 cartridges as I went, I hurried to my horse. In 
 an instant his knee halter was undone, and I had 
 swung myself into the saddle, when, to my surprise, 
 three of my dogs, that I had left with my people, 
 joined me. They might be of use, thought I, so 
 dismissed the subject and turned my attention to 
 the possibility of whether I could gallop a gemsbok 
 down. True, it was wounded ; but as it " streaked " 
 across the plain, from the pace it was going, no one 
 would have thought so. 
 
 My horse and dogs saw the game at one and the 
 same moment, and I almost believe that each tried 
 in rivalry to outdo the other in their endeavours 
 to overtake it. For myself, I took a hold of my 
 horse's head, just sufficient and no more than was 
 requisite to steady him, shoved my feet well home 
 in the stirrup-irons, and watched, with no little 
 curiosity, the result of the trial of speed between 
 horse, dogs, and antelope. One of the pursuers was 
 nearly a pure bred greyhound, the others more than 
 half-bred, and although I believe that I was better 
 mounted than any man who had previously entered 
 this hunting veldt, I could not hold a candle to the 
 hounds, although I gained rapidly on the game. 
 Soon the dogs ran up alongside the gemsbok. 
 The leading one being but a puppy, but very 
 promising on account of its pluck, attempted to 
 take a forward hold, when the game made a sweep 
 with its head, the long straight antlers for a 
 
I A SERIOUS LOSS. 171 
 
 oment disappeared, from the rapidity of the action 
 I with which they were used, and the young hound 
 by upon the ground, sorely wounded, I knew — 
 Iven unto death, I feared. 
 I Such an example would have been thought a 
 learning to the others ; not so, for Kama, a large 
 fellow dog, committed the same foolhardy act as 
 his comrade, and received the same return. I had 
 no fear for the remaining beast ; he had always 
 proved himself a cur of the first water, and as such 
 he turned out to-day. It is always so in field 
 sports of the description I write about, the valuable 
 dogs are invariably those of which you are first 
 deprived. 
 
 ROAN ANTELOPE. 
 
CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 TWO HOUNDS KILLED — A BOER LADY. 
 
 But to return to the chase. My horse was still 
 going fresh and free, although he had covered over 
 a couple of miles at racing pace, and as I was only 
 a hundred yards or thereabouts behind the game. 
 I called upon the bay with both voice and handj 
 and soon decreased the distance three-fourths, 
 had thought the gemsbok was going its best ; bui 
 like Paddy's car-horse, that ever '' has a spurt ii 
 it " to come up to the hall-door, so had the gemsbol 
 *'a spurt in it" saved for such an occasion as th( 
 present. Diminish the space between us I could 
 not. I did not use the spur, for I knew my gallant 
 horse was doing his best, and therefore what more 
 could I ask ? For a quarter of a mile the terms 
 upon which the game and self stood remained 
 unchanged, when, to my intense satisfaction, I per- 
 ceived it commence to sway in its gait. A minute 
 after its pace was changed to a trot, then to a walk, 
 which ultimately subsided into a halt. Dismounting 
 
I 
 
 TEST OF SPEED, 173 
 
 rapidly as I could, for I was terribly blown, I 
 fired, and, would the reader believe it, although 
 not twenty yards distant from the object of my aim, 
 a beast as big as a well -grown two-year-old heifer, 
 I missed it clean. Not so, however, with the 
 second barrel. After its discharge the antelope 
 trembled, as if suffering from a severe attack of 
 ague, then swayed a couple of times, fell over on 
 its side, gave two or three spasmodic kicks, and all 
 was over. 
 
 The first shot I had fired at this beast I dis- 
 covered hit too low down to be fatal, and was 
 therefore little more than a severe flesh wound, 
 thus scarcely calculated to operate much against 
 its speed, so I am Inclined to consider that this 
 was a fair trial of swiftness and endurance between 
 a gemsbok and a horse. It must be remembered 
 that the ground was almost level, and free from 
 obstructions of any description, while the oryx was 
 in far better condition than these animals are usually 
 
 Iund. 
 As I have said before, whether the large ante- 
 pes can be ridden down depends entirely upon 
 the condition of your horse, or of the game, and 
 the nature of ground on which it Is done. 
 
 But, returning to this run, one of the very finest 
 I ever enjoyed, it cost me a heavy price, for on 
 my return journey I found one dog dead, and the 
 other so seriously injured that I had to shoot it. 
 
174 BAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 When wild dogs or hyaenas attack any of these large 
 bok, they invariably make for the flank. If my 
 poor hounds had done likewise, they might have 
 been my companions for many a day to come. 
 
 While riding home I will attempt to describe 
 the gemsbok [Oryx capensis). The greater part 
 of its body is a dirty cream colour, upon which are 
 beautiful black markings ; first on the face, from 
 the lower part of the horns to the bottom of the 
 jaw, runs a jet line traversing the eyes, in front of 
 which come a large black blaze up half-way above 
 the nostrils. A mane extends from between the 
 ears to some distance beyond the withers. Again, 
 there is a peculiar and angular-shaped pattern, 
 gradually increasing in width, also black, from the 
 termination of the mane to the setting on of the 
 tail, which latter is very ox-like, but more tufted. 
 Both fore and hind legs have a black blaze down 
 to the knee and hock ; while in front, just at the 
 part of the neck that would be most prominent in 
 an ewe-necked horse, is a very prominent black 
 bunch of hair. The horns, which are strongly 
 marked with corrugations over a third of their 
 length from the base, are almost straight, but 
 gently turn outwards from each other towards the 
 points, and are often over three feet long, while the 
 mature bull not unfrequently reaches thirteen hands 
 in height at the shoulder. 
 
 The gemsbok is truly a beautiful animal, in many 
 
LUCK AGAINST US. 175 
 
 inspects very equine, and assuredly, of a truth, I 
 ould any day sooner gaze at it and enjoy the 
 admiration it is sure to invite, than align my rifle- 
 
 Ight upon its comely flanks. 
 At sundown I got home ; but Chummy did not 
 iturn for an hour later. He had killed a barren 
 pw hartebeest, which had given him no end of 
 uouble before he secured it, although afterwards 
 it was discovered to have been, at the first fire, 
 hit through the heart. It is perfectly surprising, 
 almost incredible, what wounds these grass-feeding 
 animals may receive before they are brought to bag. 
 It is also the same with elephants and buffaloes — 
 more especially the former ; for I have known them 
 left for dead at night, and nowhere to be found 
 when the sun rose. On the other hand, the car- 
 nivora, if seriously wounded, never recover. The 
 difference of diet in this climate is no doubt the 
 cause. 
 Ifc As our camp was well sheltered, very pretty, 
 abundantly supplied with water, and we had plenty 
 of meat, we resolved to remain here for a day or 
 two with the intention of having a general clean up 
 as well as with the hope that our nocturnal visitor, 
 that we had so hopelessly sought, would again put 
 in an appearance. My friend was particularly 
 
 i anxious to kill a lion. So was I ; but luck did not 
 
 i 
 
 I seem to be disposed to favour us, so we were dis- . 
 j cussing the propriety of making a movement further 
 
176 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT, 
 
 to the edge of the Kahhari Desert, for the reader 
 should know that we were now considerably more 
 than one hundred miles to the westward of the trade 
 route, and, consequently. In a country that had not 
 been disturbed by the firearms of the white man, when 
 a deputation of natives arrived to ask us to render 
 them aid under circumstances which were doubtless 
 most trying. These delegates came from a village 
 about a day's treck from our encampment, and had 
 been sent by their chief for the purpose of request- 
 ing us to visit him, as an old lion had, on two 
 successive evenings, broken into his kraal, and on 
 each occasion killed and carried off a calf. This 
 beast was an old offender, for, not more than a 
 month ago, he had perpetrated the same offences, 
 and had become so bold that he totally disregarded ; 
 the presence of the residents of the station. This 
 was, doubtless, the brute we sought for, and, as ! 
 time was no object, it was resolved to comply with \ 
 our visitors' desire ; so they were amply supplied t 
 with meat, and the morrow fixed for our departure. 
 Scarcely had we got under way, when a good- i 
 looking young Boer rode up to me, and, after 
 expressing himself In unimpeachable English, and 
 with much greater courtesy than Is generally ^' 
 expected from his nationality, he informed me that 
 he was only outspanned a few miles off, and that 
 his frow, the previous evening, when getting into 
 their waggon, had got kicked by one of the after 
 
I 
 
 A VERY MODEST LADY. 177 
 
 bullocks, and he thought her leg was broken ; any- 
 how, his wife was suffering intense pain. I do not 
 like this bastard Dutch breed much — better, and 
 more truthfully, I may say, not at all ; still, It was 
 impossible to refuse to give what aid was in my 
 power to the sufferer. So, as the waggons started, 
 I mounted my roan mare, with splints, bandages, 
 
 : and a bottle of chlorodyne in my pocket. The 
 distance was not far, and I noticed particularly 
 
 I that the unfortunate uttered no complaint until she 
 heard her husband and myself outside her waggon ; 
 then her lamentations became heartrending. I have 
 known similar eccentricities occur not so very far 
 from home. However, I was duly introduced to 
 the sufferer by her husband, who also acted as 
 interpreter. 
 
 This ceremony, trifling as it may appear, 
 brought on additional and more severe paroxysms 
 of pain ; In fact, so loud were her groanings that 
 the native boys (all servants are called boys here, 
 however old they may be) stood still, as if awe- 
 stricken. The patient was a good-looking young 
 woman, about five and twenty, but inordinately 
 stout. In her belief, her leg was broken at the 
 knee, and its utility was gone for ever and ever. 
 I requested to see the injured member. Show 
 it ! no, that she would not. Did ever mortal 
 hear of such an Immodest request.'^ Did I think 
 she, a Boer, was a Hottentot, a Kaffir, or a 
 
 N 
 
178 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 Bushman, in making such a proposal to her ? 
 
 I exhausted my stock of arguments in explaining 
 
 that it was impossible for me to advise treatment 
 
 unless I thoroughly comprehended the nature of 
 
 the injury. All was of no avail, persuasion and 
 
 threats were alike thrown away, so I ordered my 
 
 horse to be brought up. The husband, poor fellow, 
 
 seemed much annoyed, and begged me not to 
 
 depart, so I delayed mounting. I was willing to 
 
 be of service if I could, but how could I be so 
 
 unless I understood exactly the nature of the 
 
 injury ? I explained this to him ; of course he saw 
 
 my position, and understood it at once. After he 
 
 had gone back and forth several times between 
 
 his wife and myself, he brought intelligence that 
 
 she would consent, provided I never told any one 
 
 in the Transvaal ; so, with this understanding, I 
 
 re-entered the waggon. I have seen bashful 
 
 maidens of fifteen, and bashful old maids of fifty, 
 
 but never such a superlative degree of squeamish- 
 
 ness exhibited as here. Inch by inch her skirt 
 
 was raised ; in half an hour its selvage reached 
 
 the knee, and then at a glance I saw what was 
 
 the matter. The knee-cap had been kicked on one 
 
 side. But what else did I see ? the dirtiest leg I 
 
 supposed possible to exist ; it was literally encrusted 
 
 with filth, the accumulation of ages. When I 
 
 rejoined Chummy, he asked me regarding my 
 
 patient; without an effort there came to my lips 
 
 d 
 
I 
 
 A HAPPY REUNION. 179 
 
 e following couplet. Both laughed much over 
 it at the time, so I committed it to paper. So 
 here it is — 
 
 To tell the truth, without any gammon. 
 
 The grime on her knees was like scales on a salmon. 
 
 Without exception the Boers are the filthiest 
 people in the world ; the heathen are nothing to 
 them in this respect. I have often heard one of 
 the he creatures boast that he had not had his 
 trousers off for six months. 
 
 But let us hurry on, for the knee is bandaged, 
 and a bottle of arnica has been promised to use 
 as a dressing. 
 
 So much time had been lost, that it was nearly 
 nightfall before the cortdge was overtaken, and then 
 it was about entering the kraal that formed its desti- 
 nation. There was a crowd assembled to bid us 
 welcome ; out of its ranks rushed a coloured man ; 
 in a moment he seized me by the hand, and kissed 
 it a dozen times. Who was it ? Who could it be ? 
 Who tendered me so warm and genuine a welcome ? 
 Who do you think, patient reader, it was ? My 
 well tried, faithful, and much-loved Cigar, the 
 Hottentot ! 
 
 Poor fellow ! He had been all over the country 
 in search for me, misled at one place, misdirected 
 at another, so had been more than a month in 
 accomplishing what should have taken him less 
 than a week. However, all's well that ends well ; 
 
i8o DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 but Chummy did not evidently think the same. 
 For why ? Cigar, who only arrived at the kraal 
 this morning, having heard of the depredations of 
 the veteran lion, to while away time at once went 
 in pursuit of him, and succeeded in giving the ^ 
 beast a wound, the severity of which we hope to 
 learn in the morning. 
 
 M 
 
CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 AN OLD FAVOURITE BLOWN UP — DEATH OF A LION. 
 
 As may be supposed, Cigar and myself spent a 
 most enjoyable evening, discussing former adven- 
 tures and inquiring after mutual friends. At length, 
 after a pause in the conversation, I asked him 
 where Jansey, an old driver, was, and whether he 
 could not be induced again to take service with 
 me ? To my surprise and sorrow, I was informed 
 that he was dead. 
 
 " How was he killed ? How did it happen ? " I 
 asked. 
 
 '* Blowed himself up," was the answer. 
 
 '* But how ? Tell me." 
 
 ** Easy enough ; he went to set a bottle for a 
 hyaena, and it went off. No one knew anything 
 about it till next day, when he was missed ; then 
 they had a search for him, and he was found 
 scattered all over the veldt, bits of him hanging 
 on the bushes, just like so much biltong left out 
 to dry." 
 
i82 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 In a moment I comprehended how the accident 
 had taken place, for Jansey often, on my last trip, j 
 accompanied me when I set a bottle to kill the ^ 
 '' hyaena vermins ; " but I had warned him, not once, j 
 but a dozen times, never to attempt this mode of fl 
 destruction himself, or an accident was certain to 
 happen. But my caution had evidently been dis- 
 regarded, and, as a result, a good servant and 
 capital hunter had been added to the vast majority. 
 As my readers may not understand what is meant 
 by setting a bottle, I will explain. 
 
 Take an ordinary bottle and fill it with powderj 
 then bury it underneath where the bait is to b( 
 suspended. The cork is now placed in it, which " 
 has been bored lengthways and sheeted with sand- 
 paper in such a way that a lucifer match can be 
 drawn up through it. While the further arrange- 
 ments are being made, the string which passes 
 through the cork to the match should be wound 
 round the neck of the bottle. The bait, a piece of 
 raw meat, having been attached to the string by 
 the aid of another line, is gently lowered from a 
 distance till it remains suspended a few feet over 
 the bottle, the string round the bottle's neck dis- 
 engaging itself to permit the bait to descend very 
 gradually. Thus it will be understood that if the 
 bait is dragged at, the match passes up between the 
 sandpaper, and an explosion immediately ensues. It 
 is a dangerous device, almost as much so to the 
 
AT FAULT. 183 
 
 ■■^tter as to the vermin to be destroyed ; at least, 
 ■Poor old Jansey had found it so. I say I would not 
 advise people trying this experiment. 
 
 At an early hour next morning the whole party 
 were astir. We had our work cut out for us. An 
 unwounded lion can at times give trouble ; a wounded 
 one is certain to do so. 
 
 In spite of danger, we mustered a goodly number 
 of volunteers, but only two of these were armed with 
 guns, the most miserable, antiquated muskets that 
 ever the sun shone on. However, it spoke well for 
 the pluck of these people, that they were willing 
 to risk such an encounter when so inadequately 
 armed. 
 
 As anticipated, on inspecting the muddy margin 
 of a vley of water, fresh spoor was found ; for a 
 wounded lion, like a wounded man, must, if possible, 
 obtain water, but after this discovery we were 
 all thrown at fault, for the ground was baked so 
 hard that no evidence of a track could be found 
 on it. 
 
 Not expecting thus to be defeated, the dogs 
 had all been left at the waggons, for the reason 
 that they were too valuable to risk their death or 
 injury, but no course remained now but to send 
 for them. The chief of the station stated that his 
 people possessed several good dogs, which we might 
 willingly have, so they were also ordered up. In 
 due time the pack was mustered. The reader 
 
1 84 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 is already conversant with my kennel's appearance, 
 not so with the brutes that composed the Kaffirs. 
 
 As a native never feeds a dog, it can well be 
 imagined that these were thin ; more, they looked 
 like moving skeletons, and in form much more 
 resembled wild animals of the jackal type than 
 anything else. 
 
 Cover was very sparse — it may almost be said 
 that there was none ; so we stretched out into an 
 extended line, and in this formation advanced for 
 nearly a mile. 
 
 Every few hundred yards that we advanced a 
 steinbok or duikerbok jumped up within a few 
 paces of the beaters, and went off, with the whole 
 pack of curs in close attendance. Knobkerries were 
 hurled ad libitum by my associates, and several of 
 these interesting animals were placed to our credit. 
 As these animals stand as high as a goat, it is 
 perfectly surprising how they can secrete them- 
 selves upon such bare ground. The only explana- 
 tion I can offer is that the colour of their coats 
 approximates closely with that of the soil. After 
 more than a mile and a half of tramp we reached 
 a dip in the veldt, which was, if possible, more 
 sterile than the ground we had lately passed over ; 
 so, with one accord, all agreed that the object of 
 our search had not sought it for a sanctuary. The 
 question now arose, where can the brute have gone ^. 
 One of the Bushmen surmised to an adjoining hill ; 
 
i 
 
 AN UNSUCCESSFUL SEARCH. 
 
 i8^ 
 
 t 
 
 another to some kopjes a couple of miles distant. 
 
 But the old chief explained that a second vley of 
 ater existed two miles off, and that he thought 
 e old thief most probably had gone there, as 
 
 it was long known as one of his favourite drinking- 
 
 places. 
 
 VILDEBEESTE. 
 
CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 A SPLENDID TROPHY THE GIANT KINGFISHER. 
 
 Cigar, like many great men with vast experience, 
 hesitated to offer an opinion until appealed to. 
 With such an authority as I knew he was, I 
 doubted the propriety of expressing my ideas, so 
 asked him his suspicions upon the matter. His 
 answer was, ** I don't know this country, but, from 
 my knowledge of lions gained elsewhere, I should 
 say the old chief was right." This response decided 
 the question in dispute, so off we went en masse to 
 the pond indicated. The banks of the vley were 
 muddy, and the water, from evaporation, was sunk 
 considerably below the level of the adjoining country. 
 The goats and sheep of the neighbouring village 
 had trampled its edges most thoroughly the previous 
 evening, but over their track, in the sticky and 
 adhesive soil, was easily distinguished the broad 
 footprints of the animal we sought. More than 
 that, to confirm our belief that we were on the 
 spoor of the right beast, a few splashes of blood 
 were found adhering to the scanty herbage that 
 
I 
 
 A QUICK SHOT. 187 
 
 grew at intervals between the veldt and the water. 
 As all wild animals go up wind before lying down, 
 although occasionally some turn a short distance 
 back upon their course, we resolved in a protracted 
 line to beat up against the breeze. Again there was 
 the same chevying of steinbok and dulkerbok, and 
 again the knobkerries were hurled with equal effect, 
 till at length we reached an indentation In the 
 ground, where the bush was much more abundant 
 than previously. Some of the curs made a dash for 
 it ; but all, with the exception of three, Immediately 
 afterwards turned tail and found refuge behind their 
 respective owners. Those that still kept in advance 
 exhibited by their manner that something unusual 
 was before them, for, in place of their previous 
 happy-go-lucky, reckless conduct, they now ad- 
 vanced at a most measured gait, while the ridge 
 of hair upon their backs stood almost erect. 
 
 Cigar, who was close to me, whispered, " The 
 old scoundrel Is In front of us. Keep a sharp 
 look-out, and, if I'm not wrong, you'll see him steal- 
 ing through the bushes." Scarcely had he expressed 
 himself thus, when he pitched his snider to his 
 shoulder, took a lengthened look along the barrel, 
 and again' brought his rifle to the carry. '' I thought 
 I saw him," said he, and scarcely had he finished 
 the sentence when again he apparently took aim 
 and fired, the report being greeted with a protracted 
 and angry howl. 
 
i88 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 This was the signal for a tremendous stampede ; 
 but, instead of it being directed from the point of 
 danger, it was concentrated around the chief, Cigar, 
 and myself, who were close together. That the 
 bullet had hit the object it was aimed at I had no 
 doubt, for I heard the ominous thud that ever truly 
 tells that the bullet has hit the target it was intended 
 for. However, we soon knew that it was not fatal, 
 for the curs that led the advance immediately 
 dashed into the cover and disappeared, soon after 
 to give us warning where they were by their 
 vociferous yelping at some description of prey two 
 hundred yards to our front, where a jumble of rocks 
 and masses of upturned clay, covered with parasitic 
 creepers, formed just such a sanctuary as a wounded 
 enemy of this description would choose to seek 
 cover in. The pluck of these dogs gave the others 
 courage, and they now rushed forward, the whole 
 pack making a row that would have been sufficient 
 to waken the dead, if there had been any 
 secreted in that locality. Cigar said it was the 
 lion he fired at. One of the chiefs head men 
 asserted he had seen the brute, and he was sup- 
 ported in his statement by a Bushman who was in 
 the immediate vicinity. A second advance was now 
 made, but when we reached where the dogs were 
 baying, a certain amount of irresolution was cha- 
 racteristic of the whole party. I confess I did not 
 care about entering this labyrinth, with rocks, briars. 
 
I 
 
 RECKLESSNESS. 189 
 
 and bushes, entangled in such a manner as to 
 almost shut out the light of day, and therefore pre- 
 venting your seeing the foe you were opposed to, 
 until it was within springing distance of you. How- 
 ever, a young Kaffir, a well-made, handsome fellow, 
 of about eighteen years of age, doubtless wishing to 
 show himself off before his chief, went to the front, 
 and, after exhorting his countrymen to follow him, 
 which they did not seem at all inclined to do, made 
 a further advance. Previously all had been still, if 
 we except the clamour made by the dogs ; but now 
 a roar, if not rivalling thunder, at all events a very 
 near approach to it, was heard, and with the sound 
 out bounded the lion, intent on striking down the 
 adventurous youth. I had looked at this lad's 
 exploit as a piece of bravado, and was thus scarcely 
 prepared for what took place ; but Chummy, ever 
 cautious and careful, had his reward for being so, 
 for he got a snap shot, which turned the foe and 
 caused him to again retreat into the security of his 
 sanctuary. Nothing afterwards would induce the 
 brute to come out, the result of which was that 
 recklessness and foolhardiness became the order of 
 the hour, which, if it had been persevered in, must 
 have resulted in some person being killed or severely 
 mauled. Former experience told me that such a 
 result could be anticipated, and all I said availed 
 nothing to prevent it. At length the chief and 
 Cigar backed me up, and those youngsters who 
 
190 
 
 DAVS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 were anxious to extinguish or distinguish themselves 
 were compelled to listen to reason. 
 
 A ring was now formed round the shelter that 
 the lion had selected, but all our efforts to induce 
 him again to show himself were thrown away. 
 Several of the dogs stood in front of a dense clump 
 of brush under the shadow of a giant boulder, and, I 
 might almost say, pointed the game. A quarter of 
 an hour was consumed in hurling stones into this 
 tangle of scrub, but our enemy evidently had had 
 enough of shooting to prevent himself being again 
 made a target, and things began to hang heavily on 
 our hands. In my old Indian days there were many 
 youngsters I can remember who would have literally 
 bearded the lion in his den, but I confess the result 
 of years and experience causes me to look at such 
 escapades as inexcusable acts of foolhardiness. 
 However, Cigar did not see it in this light. He 
 was old, a good many years older than I am, but 
 then he was crafty as a fox, and knew the ways of 
 wild beasts as if he had been a wild beast himself; 
 so, when he proposed climbing up the boulder on 
 the reverse side, so as to obtain a position over- 
 looking the foe's hiding-place, I consented. While 
 he was accomplishing this feat we kept up more than 
 the former amount of clamour, so as, if possible, to 
 draw off the wounded animal's attention from the 
 adventurous exploit of my henchman. 
 
 At length I observed his woolly head protrude 
 
I 
 
 THE BOER LADY AGAIN. 19I 
 
 over the top of the rock. Every eye as well as 
 mine noted it, and the row was renewed with 
 additional vigour. Soon after we saw him approach 
 the edge of the giant stone, and peer into the abyss 
 beneath ; for a few minutes he paused, then drew 
 his rifle, which had been by his side, forward, and 
 gradually putting it over the edge of the declivity, 
 took a long steady aim and fired. The response 
 was a roar, followed by several choking, guttural 
 sobs ; and all was silent. Any attempt to preserve 
 order was useless ; every native rushed in, assegai in 
 hand. But weapons were now uncalled for, as the 
 aged hero, who had so long despoiled their village of 
 its calves and goats, lay upon his back with his feet 
 in the air — dead. 
 
 Although old and showing the signs of age 
 
 perceptibly in his teeth, this lion was a splendid 
 
 specimen. When pegged out, without undue 
 
 stretching, the hide, from muzzle to tip of tail, 
 
 measured 10 ft. 11 in. This animal was stated by 
 
 ■^e natives to be over twenty years of age ; further, 
 
 ■nat he had been only lately driven out from the 
 
 ffToterie of his family associates, and that it was since 
 
 then he had taken to killing their flocks and similar 
 
 evil courses. 
 
 On returning to the station, I found the Dutch- 
 man with his waggon there, the man whose wife I 
 had lately been called upon to attend in reference to 
 her wounded knee. The lady was much better. 
 
192 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 and, as the skin had not been broken, I recom- 
 mended a continuation of arnica for the future treat- 
 ment of the contusion. For the benefit of the 
 traveller, let me remark here that, for similar in- 
 juries, I have ever found it invaluable both in the 
 treatment of man and beast. 
 
 I neglected to say that, on my way home, I shot 
 a specimen of the black-and-white kingfisher, a very 
 rare bird -in this part of South Africa, although it is 
 not uncommon two* hundred miles or so to the west- 
 ward of our present^p6sition,.v4z. in Great Namaqua- 
 land, a "country, from- its barrenness and dearth of 
 water, seemingly entirely. unfitted for the require- 
 ments of a member of his farnily. 
 
 It was sitting on a low twig watching the surface 
 of a rain vley, which could not, by any amount of 
 human 'imagination, be supposed to contain fish ; but 
 the kingfisher, likely as not, knew better. Its in- 
 cessant chattering first attracted my attention to it, a 
 peculiarity not possessed by other species of the 
 family, if I except the laughing jackass of Australia ; 
 and, when two are 'found associated, through this 
 peculiarity of character, they keep their vicinity quite 
 lively. Moreover, it is so far from shy that it may 
 be deemed impudent, and has a most comical way 
 of twisting its head to the right or left, at the same 
 time assuming an inquiring expression, which seldom 
 fails to cause the observer to laugh. 
 
 It is about the size of our blue jay, builds in 
 
^. !:ikUm^ 
 
 Black-and-white Kingfisiier {Ce/yk bidncta). 
 
I 
 
 BLACK AND WHITE KINGFISHER. 
 
 93 
 
 banks, and frequents, indifferently, salt or fresh 
 water. 
 
 I have never seen a specimen of this kingfisher in 
 any of our museums ; it was for this reason that I 
 took the poor thing's life. 
 
 ROAN ANTELOPE. 
 
CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 A BREAK DOWN LOVELY LANDSCAPE. 
 
 The following morning a man arrived at our outi 
 span from Honey Vley. Upon being questioned] 
 when he interviewed us, as to the sport to be ob- 
 tained in that locality, we learned that vildebeeste, 
 gemsbok, and hartebeeste were plentiful, and that a 
 family of eight lions had established themselves in 
 close proximity to the station, and that less than a 
 month ago one of this interesting family had actually 
 forced an entrance into the village about sundown, 
 put the shepherds to flight, and walked off with a 
 goat. 
 
 Since our meeting with Bareekey, at T'sinning, 
 we had resolved to visit Honey Vley, for two reasons 
 — first, that game was supposed to be abundant 
 in its vicinity ; secondly, that an immense cave 
 exists within a mile of it, in which uncountable 
 numbers of bees have for years made their home, 
 and consequently collected therein an enormous 
 
I 
 
 AN INSPECTION. ' 195 
 
 quantity of honey. A further reason, I might add, 
 stimulated me to desire to make this interesting 
 locality a halting-place, viz. that it was long the 
 head-quarters of that greatest of all South African 
 Nimrods, Gordon Gumming. 
 
 The next morning I devoted to examining the 
 horses as to their condition and fitness for the more 
 trying ordeal of hunting big game, such as elephants, 
 rhinoceros, etc. The inspection was most satis- 
 factory, for all were as hard as nails, although 
 possibly a little low in flesh. However, this last 
 defect could easily be remedied by giving them a 
 week's rest in the first good grass country we 
 reached ; but it was more satisfactory than anything 
 else to find that not one of our stud had an 
 abrasion of the skin, let alone a sore back. For 
 this immunity from a misfortune far too common 
 in this part of the world, and most difficult to 
 cure when contracted, I have to thank the saddler 
 who supplied me with all my horse gear. His 
 manufactures have, in consequence, become so 
 popular in the colony that many of the irregular 
 frontier forces use no other. Yoke-keys, strops, 
 yokes, and treck-tows had now to be overhauled ; 
 but as Gigar could do this as well as myself, and, 
 further, see the hubs of the wheels well supplied 
 with antifriction grease, I mounted my mare, took 
 my Tolley Express and rode forth, for the double 
 purpose of finding meat and seeking adventure. 
 
196 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 To the north, at the comparatively short distance 
 of four or five miles, was situated a lovely ridge of 
 hills, whose greatest elevation did not exceed seven 
 or eight hundred feet. The shadows of the clouds, 
 just as you see them In bonnle Scotland, glided with 
 rapid steps over their surface, which was rendered 
 most attractive by the bright green and golden 
 colour of the brae's surface. Something in their out- 
 line or repose reminded me of beautiful Malvern, to 
 my mind the most charming watering-place in all 
 England ; so I directed my course towards them. 
 For the first mile I was able to pursue my way at a 
 sharp canter, but afterwards was compelled to pull 
 up, for the surface of the country was completely 
 undermined with meerkat holes. In whatever 
 direction I turned my eyes, there they sat, those 
 ** queer wee beasties,", looking exactly like charred 
 stumps of trees ; for, although their colour Is a warm 
 brown, at a short distance — say a hundred yards 
 — they appear to be black. They are very curious 
 and interesting little creatures, and are gifted with 
 the most imperturbable expression of countenance, 1 
 that cannot fail to make the observer smile. Their I 
 position, when sitting up, is stiff as a ramrod, and i 
 quite perpendicular. However, the moment they 
 consider an aggressor has approached sufficiently 
 close to imperil their safety, apparently without an 
 effort they take a surprising header into their 
 burrow. For this leap they apparently make no 
 
SPRINGBOK. 197 
 
 more preparation than does a loon, cormorant, or 
 shag before going under water. 
 
 The meerkat is to South Africa what the prairie 
 dog is to the North American continent. There is 
 also a further curious similarity between them — 
 these animals of the old and new world ; their 
 burrows seem to be the favourite haunt or trysting- 
 place of snakes and diminutive owls. Through this 
 specimen of quadrumana having been first brought 
 to the attention of European zoologists by the well- 
 known traveller, Le Vaillant, it has received its 
 specific title, Cynidis Levaillantii. 
 
 But, slow as my pace had been for the last half- 
 hour, I had by that time reached the sky-line of the 
 hills, and before me extended a great stretch of not 
 inviting country, for it was flat almost as a bowling- 
 green, sparsely supplied with bush or grass, and 
 totally destitute of trees, while the surface in many 
 places, was cut up with huge sand-cracks or dongas, 
 some of these rifts being large enough for a small 
 army to find shelter in. But, scant as herbage ap- 
 peared on this unattractive landscape, numerous 
 springbok found here an abundance of subsistence. 
 Even at the elevation I had gained, so slight was 
 the breeze, that It was only by tossing dry grass into 
 the air that I ascertained in which way the currents 
 of air were moving. As I wanted meat, and a couple 
 of springbok would exactly fulfil my requirements, I 
 resolved upon a stalk ; and, to make success doubly 
 
198 BAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 sure, I made a detour to the south-west, rode up a 
 donga for a couple of hundred yards, dismounted, 
 hobbled my mare, and took a view over the edge of 
 the crevice. To my satisfaction, there were the 
 antelopes, but at least two hundred yards further to 
 my left ; so, drawing my head down out of sight, with 
 silent footsteps I followed the course of the sun 
 crack, the. bottom of which was almost as smooth 
 as a military covered way. 
 -. Directly in front of where I a second time raised 
 my head was an ant-hill^in fact, the whole country 
 was covered with these monotonous and uninterest- 
 ing excrescences— and not a hundred yards off, in all 
 the consciousness of feeling secure from interruption, 
 fed five of -these beautiful and graceful represen- 
 tativJes of the South African fauna. 
 ■ . I had loaded with hollow bullets, and both did 
 their duty well, for the victims fell and yielded up 
 their lives at once, without giving the spasmodic 
 struggle that almost -invariably accompanies violent 
 death. " ;..;;: , : 
 
 : Theremaining companions of the slain did not 
 appear the least alarmed at the report of my rifle, or 
 conscious of the fate of their comrades, but continued 
 nibbling up portions of the scant herbage in the 
 delicate, fastidious manner peculiar to their species. 
 If I had desired to do so, I might have shot every 
 member of the party, but desisted, and trust that all 
 sportsmen will follow the example I set them, 
 
 J 
 
. f 
 
 I 
 
A NECESSARY PRECAUTION. 199 
 
 namely, to cease slaughter when they have obtained 
 enough for their requirements. 
 
 When I showed myself over the bank of the 
 donga, there was a scurry among the innocents, all 
 going off, up wind, as fast as their graceful legs 
 would carry them, every third or fourth stride being 
 broken in its monotony by a spring into the air of 
 clear eight or nine feet. 
 
 Having pulled the carcasses into my late shelter, 
 I went for my mare, and soon had the spoils over her 
 back, first having knocked off the horns, a perform- 
 ance that never must be forgotten, for, secure your 
 game as you like behind your saddle,, the heads will 
 keep dangling about, and, unless great care is taken, 
 inflict serious wounds upon your horse. . I would 
 impress this upon novices, for I had one of my most 
 valuable mounts all but ruined by neglecting this 
 precaution. It occurred in this way. I had shot a 
 steinbok, and the animal which I rode, being young 
 1 and inexperienced, had a great objection to the 
 ■Ifluarry being placed upon his back. At length, by 
 ■'coaxing, gentleness, and kindness, I succeeded ; but, 
 just as I had done so, a number of quagga and vilde- 
 beeste charged past me. My mount broke loose and 
 followed in their wake, kicking and bucking every 
 few strides he took. This conduct struck me as 
 strange at the time ; but the reason for such capers 
 I did not suspect. However, when my horse was 
 secured, all was explained. The buck's horns had 
 
200 
 
 BAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 made Innumerable punctures on the poor animal's 
 flank, a foot or more behind the girth. Fortunately, 
 the steinbok was a youngster, and its prickers 
 scarcely an inch in length, or doubtless I should 
 have lost what ultimately turned out to be a most 
 valuable hunter. 
 
 \ 
 
 BUSHMAN MUSICIAN. 
 
CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 CHEETAH ILL-ASSORTED TRAVELLERS. 
 
 Having loaded up my prizes, I was about to 
 start homewards, when the conduct of some spring- 
 bok struck me as strange — so strange, in fact, that I 
 resolved to unravel the enigma. In front of me 
 were a dozen or more animals of the same species as 
 those I had just slain, distant about four hundred 
 yards. With inquisitive, and at the same time angry 
 look, closely packed together, they kept advancing, 
 every moment one or other showing his or her dis- 
 approbation by an angry stamp of the fore foot. 
 
 I took out my glass and watched them for 
 several minutes, but I could observe nothing that 
 incurred their displeasure. Here was a mystery. 
 Naturally, I formed some ideas of the cause of 
 such strange conduct, and those ideas were, that 
 either a large snake or one of the carnivores were 
 in front of the antelopes ; so, putting my glass 
 into its case, I untied the rheims that bound the 
 game to the cantle of my saddle, took an extra 
 pull upon my girths, mounted, and sought a 
 
202 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 practicable passage out of the donga. This I found 
 without exposing myself ; but there was no necessity 
 for this secrecy, for when I was on the plain not one 
 of the buck appeared to take the sHghtest notice of 
 my approach. Something had evidently bewitched 
 them, to which they must draw closer, although 
 their manner indicated that the alternative was far 
 from a pleasant one. 
 
 Taking the mare well in hand, I made a dash for 
 fhe fascinated animals, but until I was within thirty 
 or- forty, yards of them they totally ignored my ap- 
 proach ;• then; however, they slowly trotted off, again 
 to reassemble within short rifle range, and inquire 
 from me, if their expression could be so construed, 
 V What do you mean by interfering in what does 
 not concern you ? " I stood and gazed at the beasts 
 in absolute wonder. Never had I seen springbok so 
 tame; in fact, they were more than that — they looked 
 as if they had the intention of disputing my right 
 to ride over the veldt. 
 
 .. While taking stock of these beauties, my mare 
 had been nibbling at stray blades of grass that were 
 within. her, reach; suddenly she ceased to feed, and 
 gently.raised herhead, at the same time keeping her 
 eyes. fixed, upon some object- that had attracted her 
 attention. . I was not long, kept in doubt what it 
 was. From the back of an ant-hill, at the base of 
 which grew a considerable quantity of rank herbage, 
 glided what I at first supposed to be a leopard, but 
 
F 
 
 Cheetah {Gusparda jubata). 
 
HORSE VERSUS CHEETAH. 203 
 
 a second glance told me that it was a cheetah 
 {Gusparda jubatd), so often stupidly called hunting 
 leopard ; I say stupidly, for it is in no way related 
 to the spotted beauty that is such a pest to the 
 pastoral farmer and a terror to the ever-watchful 
 baboon. Here, however, was a chance to try the 
 fleetness of this well-known beast, in whose speed I 
 have no faith, if required to be sustained, although 
 I will acknowledge, and in this point I thoroughly 
 agree with my old friead, Mr. Blyth, once curator of 
 the Calcutta Museum, that for three or four bounds 
 its velocity exceeds that of any other quadruped. 
 
 When first I saw the cheetah, he was stealing 
 away, as if desirous of escaping observation ; 
 but the moment I gave a "view halloa" and 
 dashed towards him, off he went with several 
 bounds, which, if continued, would soon have left 
 me nowhere ; but this was not to be. The animal 
 settled into a long lope, not unlike the gait of a wolf 
 or hyaena, but with this difference, that it did not as 
 rapidly cover the ground. 
 
 My mare could at any time, after the first two 
 hundred yards were passed, have run up alongside 
 the quarry, but this I would not permit her to do, 
 being satisfied to make the pace only sufficiently hot 
 to pump the fugitive. In a quarter of a mile I had 
 succeeded, for the poor brute refused to go any 
 further, but sat down after the manner of a dog, and, 
 looking at me with an inquiring, intelligent gaze. 
 
204 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 seeming to ask for what reason I was thus perse- 
 cuting it. Even now I would have spared the poor 
 thing ; but its skin was beautiful and valuable, and, 
 further, had it not lived a marauder's life ? Thus 
 satisfying my conscience for what I was about to do, 
 I dismounted. The aim I took was for the centre 
 of the creature's breast, and death was instantaneous. 
 
 The most common observer of animal life can 
 never mistake the cheetah for the leopard, for the 
 former totally differs in shape, as well as colour, 
 from the latter; however, it is a very handsome 
 beast, very dog-like in character and disposition, 
 and, if captured young, can easily be made a most 
 interesting and affectionate pet. 
 
 As I returned to my mare, I saw a pallah, an 
 animal now becoming very scarce, although at one 
 time rather abundant all over the colony ; this is 
 much to be regretted, as it is a very handsome 
 antelope. 
 
 What with the two springbok, the cheetah skin, 
 and myself, the little mare had quite a load to 
 carry, so I made my home journey at a slow pace. 
 As the mare was a very fast walker, I rapidly 
 overtook two pedestrians, when, to my surprise, I 
 discovered them to be white men, and more dis- 
 reputable-looking specimens of the breed I had 
 seldom previously come in contact with. The cloth- 
 ing of the first was of blue serge for a groundwork, 
 but it was patched and mended in so many places, 
 
Tivo curiosities: 205 
 
 and with such a variety of materials, that very little 
 indeed of the orlg-inal garment was left. On his 
 shoulders he carried a frying-pan, nicely balanced by 
 
 ^tin beaker attached to the far end of its handle, 
 n his mouth was stuck a short pipe, out of which 
 e was taking, in colonial parlance, a dry smoke — • 
 that is, it was alike destitute of fire or tobacco. The 
 man of doubtful nationality was better dressed, for 
 moleskin was the material he wore, and even African 
 thorns have not the power of rending this all-resist- 
 ing fabric. Across one shoulder he had slung a 
 blanket, over the other about a quarter of a bag of 
 mealy meal. Both were without socks or stockings, 
 their feet being solely protected by most dilapidated 
 veldt schoon. 
 
 Neither looked as if they had been acquainted 
 with soap and water for a month of Sundays, while 
 the dust that they had raised lay so thick upon 
 them that without difficulty you could have made 
 an admirable map upon their backs, or indited their 
 names, with perfect legibility. 
 
 '' Good day, friends ; where bound ? " was my 
 salutation. 
 
 '' Diamon' Fields," answered Pat. 
 
 '' You have a long road before you, four hundred 
 miles, if it's an inch," I responded. 
 
 '' And what's a hundred miles more or less to the 
 likes of us, begorra ? This is a free country, and 
 devil a toll to pay," was the answer I received. 
 
2o6 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 So, without entering Into further conversation, 
 I told them my waggons were in front, and that I 
 should be pleased to have them for my guests that 
 evening. But scarcely had I issued this invitation, 
 when I beheld my cavalcade advancing through 
 clouds of dust. 
 
 On reaching the leading waggon, I found Cigar 
 driving, and on inquiring why he had inspanned, he 
 told me that there was a fine wooded vley in front, 
 about five miles off, where there was an abundance 
 of excellent grass, and that it would, in consequence, 
 be a much better place to start from, on our long 
 treck to Honey Vley, than our last halting-ground. 
 
 It took but little persuasion to Induce the two 
 travel- stained wanderers to take a seat on the 
 waggon-box. A glass of cango (a colonial spirit 
 which, when aged, is not to be despised) and 
 a strong domestic cigar at once overcame their 
 scruple at retracing their steps, and caused both 
 to really look happy under circumstances that I 
 believe even Mark Tapley himself would have 
 given in to. 
 
 The sun was quite an hour high when we reached 
 our destination. The vley, which was a couple of 
 hundred yards long, looked like a permanent water, 
 and round its margin grew numerous trees, the 
 branches of those that hung over its surface being 
 invariably terminated with one of those skilfully 
 constructed and gracefully shaped nests for which 
 
BRUTAL CONDUCT. 207 
 
 the whIte-browed weaver birds (JPlocepasser mahali) 
 are so justly celebrated. 
 
 TTwo days' stay won't hurt us here," I said to 
 Cigar. 
 
 " No, nor a week," was his reply. 
 
 tSo I issued the order for forty- eight hours' halt, 
 e tent to be pitched, so as to make it more com- 
 fortable for our travel-stained guests ; and the best 
 fare I possessed to be placed upon the table as soon 
 as possible. 
 
 The dinner was quite a success, and successive 
 drinks of cango made all comfortable. We should 
 now have spent a very jolly evening, but that Pat 
 would keep imbibing more than was good for him, and 
 got quarrelsome in his cups. So I went for a w^alk. 
 
 During dinner I had learned who my visitors 
 were. The son of the ''Gem of the Sea" had 
 visited outlying trading stations and Kaffir kraals, 
 with thimble-rig and the three-card trick as his 
 means of making a living. The other was a Scotch- 
 man. For twenty years he had been gold-mining 
 in California, but had been attracted to the Transvaal 
 from some flaming, lying report of the quantity of 
 the precious metal to be obtained there. 
 
 But, to return to my stroll, when I returned to 
 the vley of water, to my astonishment, numerous 
 lights seemed to be moving on its surface. On closer 
 examination I found that these torches were In the 
 hands of men, and those men my servants. And 
 
2o8 BAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 what do you suppose, gentle reader, they were 
 doing ? Firing the nests of the poor Httle weaver 
 birds, and collecting the scorched, half-drowned 
 victims as a bo7tne bottche on which to gratify their 
 beastly appetites. Flesh and blood could not stand 
 such a scene of barbarity as this long, so I ran 
 '*a-muck" amongst them, regardless of water and 
 other impediments ; but the black scoundrels were 
 too quick for me, and thus all my energy and self- 
 sacrifice were thrown away. 
 
 On returning to the tent, no light gleamed 
 through the canvas, but fearful sounds were heard, 
 such as, "" I'll whip as much dog out of you as will 
 make a full pack of hounds," then quickly followed 
 by, "I'll be a perfect epidemic to you ; " and winding- 
 up with. " I'll make you (crash), make you (crash) 
 so ugly that the flies won't bite you." 
 
 In a minute I comprehended the situation ; the 
 bosom friends had quarrelled over politics and 
 cango, and the American-Scotchman was giving 
 the American- Irishman a regular drubbing. 
 
 As I did not wish a repetition of that painful 
 affair of *'the Kilkenny cats" to take place in my 
 camp, particularly as one of the combatants was a 
 Scotchman, and therefore practically unacquainted 
 with how the game was played, I resolved to adopt 
 a plan that once I knew to be successful under 
 similar circumstances, viz. kick out the tent-pegs 
 and let go the storm ropes of the tent. There is 
 
A FRAGILE PAIR OF TROUSERS. 209 
 
 IRction ; so I acted at once. The camp fires lit up 
 IBie surroundings, but on no place did they cast their 
 illuminations so brilliantly as upon the scene of strife. 
 The toul ensemble was so comical that even the 
 curiosity of the dogs at once brought them around, 
 when one and all simultaneously concluded that 
 there was something under that broad sheet of 
 canvas that they ought to try their teeth upon ; but 
 I Intervened in the nick of time, and drove the 
 bellicose dogs off, for who was to know or could 
 be aware, I will ask any one, ''which was t'other 
 and who was topmost ? " 
 
 At length the ''lean one'' found the entrance, 
 and had a pretty good show of making an escape, 
 but he was firmly withheld from doing so by the 
 hand of his foe, who had a stiff grip upon the 
 leg of his trousers, which garments, as I have 
 formerly described as not owing the owner any- 
 thing, from the amount of service they had rendered 
 him, suddenly gave way, and the combat ceased. 
 
 As host, I resolutely insisted there should be no 
 more quarrelling in my camp, so we adjourned to 
 the waggon. 
 
 While Cigar was procuring the " square-face," I 
 had time to take a look around. There had been 
 damage done bodily — more or less on both sides— 
 but what mattered corporal ailments to the loss of 
 Paddy's breeks .'^ Everything, when you consider 
 
2IO DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 that the probability was that he could not get 
 another pair within ten days' journey. 
 
 Providence is an inscrutable thing, and not 
 always just ; for if the Scot had suffered the same 
 deprivation — well, it would have but reduced him 
 to a state he, in all human probability, had been 
 accustomed to until the years he reached maturity. 
 At least, that was my own experience and that of 
 many others I could mention, who are exalted in the 
 Army List. In fact, I have often thought that 
 parents across the Tweed pursued this plan with 
 their offspring for the sake of economy. 
 
 However, as we get older and travel, we get 
 squeamish. I could not have the immodest sight 
 about my camp — no, not under any consideration — 
 of a white man going about it with only one leg 
 to his trousers, so I gave him a brand-new pair of 
 hunting breeches of the latest pattern and colour, 
 which fitted him exactly, and were really very be- 
 coming, for they showed the development of his 
 limbs to perfection. If he had had top, or even 
 butcher boots to put on, and been spirited to the 
 grass countries, he would have been the admiration, 
 nay, envy of '' the entire field " that attends the 
 meets of any of our crack and aristocratic packs 
 of foxhounds. 
 
 _ In the morning, when we assembled to have our 
 "bitters," without Impertinently staring, I took a 
 furtive glance at both my guests. He of ''stern 
 
■ 
 
 AN IRISHMAN'S REMEDY. 211 
 
 and wild Caledonia " had suffered little ; he of the 
 " gem of the sea " — well, in popular melody I can 
 best portray his misfortunes — 
 
 " Oh ! what a surprise, 
 Two lovely black eyes." 
 
 I recommended an application of raw meat as 
 the best remedy I knew of for such-like blemishes 
 on the face, but the sufferer knew better ; his father, 
 grandfather, and how many more generations back 
 I know not, for my memory did not properly com- 
 prehend when he got so far — but, reader, be certain 
 that his was no ordinary lengthened genealogical 
 tree — always externally applied weak gin-and-water 
 to their similar contusions, so I gave in, and supplied 
 what he desired. 
 
 The incidents of last night were very comical, at 
 the same time too exciting to bear repetition, which 
 looked more than probable, so I gave orders for 
 trecking in the afternoon, and then went forth to 
 wait till breakfast was ready. As I passed a tree, 
 I I surprised Pat, who was pouring his spirits down 
 his throat. When he became cognizant of my 
 presence, he explained to me that his arm was so 
 stiff after last night's violent exercise, that he could 
 hot now get it high enough to bathe his eyes, so 
 he thought that, under the circumstances, it might 
 be quite as efficacious an Internal as an external 
 application. 
 
CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 WILD DOGS — HONEY-BIRDS. 
 
 At three p.m. we inspanned. The former cronies 
 refused to travel together any further ; so, supplying 
 both with tobacco, beltong, and a '' wee drappie," I 
 bade good-bye to each, the one bending his steps due 
 east to the Transvaal, the other south to Moroquin, 
 where I know Jim Parkins took care of him. I say 
 know, for a finer specimen of a man or a kinder- 
 hearted one than the said Jim does not exist. 
 
 All that night and the next day it was treck, 
 treck, treck. Fortunately, the cattle were in such 
 good condition, or else we must have stuck, for the , 
 belts of sand that we traversed were fearfully heavy j 
 — so much so that sometimes for a mile or more the! 
 felloes of the wheels were completely hidden by it, 
 and breathing halts in consequence had frequently: 
 to be called. But I had the fortune to have Cigar 
 for a superintendent, one of the very best drivers in 
 South Africa, and yet he comparatively seldom used 
 the whip. 
 
 The following morning, when walking ahead on 
 
A GRAND PACK OF HOUNDS, 213 
 
 the trail, one of those impudent but interesting 
 specimens of the ornithology of South Africa, the 
 little honey-bird, most persistently insisted upon my 
 following it. Its demands were so determinedly 
 pressed, that several times it nearly brushed my 
 face with its wings ; so, considering that such for- 
 ward conduct indicated that honey was near, I left 
 the path and followed my volunteer guide. 
 
 I could have done this little more than half 
 a mile when a magnificent bull gemsbok passed me, 
 going at full gallop ; as I did not wish to delay the 
 waggons reaching water, w^hich it would have en- 
 tailed, if the carcass had to be drawn out to the 
 road, I let the noble beast off without drawing a 
 sight on his beauteous flanks. 
 
 Ten minutes after the bull had disappeared — 
 and if he had kept up his running some three miles 
 would have been traversed by him in that time — I 
 heard a whimper, then another, and another, till 
 many such notes were mixed up together, and well 
 I knew what was coming, for the sound was as 
 familiar to my ear as the voices of any pack of fox- 
 hounds I have ever ridden to. They were wild 
 dogs, and what a -chance I now had to see their 
 mode of working ! One led, flanked by a comrade 
 on either side, but a little in rear, while the remainder 
 — about fifteen — were close up, not a skirter, strag- 
 gler, or tailer in the lot. In old hunting parlance, 
 veritably the pack might have been covered with 
 
214 BAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT 
 
 a. blanket ; and, remember, this Is In a country pro- 
 verbial for bad scent. 
 
 They could not have been unaware of my 
 presence, but it did not alter their purpose — they 
 were hunting to kill, and were resolved to do it. 
 
 This episode caused my little guide to desert 
 me ; but as I return to the trail I may say that 
 there are two honey-birds, the larger and smaller, 
 the latter being my late friend. Le Valllant gave 
 it the name of Le petit indicateiir, which appears 
 to me more appropriate than the classical synonyms 
 that it has more recently received. The edges of 
 the Kallhari are its favourite haunts, and although 
 so partial to honey, In my belief its more frequent 
 food Is bees or emmets ; in gratifying its taste for 
 the former the natives say that often the plucky 
 little creature gets stung to death. Its costume 
 is a sombre brown, so that when at rest it would 
 scarcely attract the attention of the ordinary way- 
 farer. 
 
 Soon after joining the waggons, the country had 
 undergone quite a change ; for, in place of compara- 
 tively dead flats, rolling hills, certainly of no great 
 elevation, surrounded us, and these were fairly 
 covered with trees. 
 
 We had been warned to look out for lions here, 
 so took every precaution to prevent our being taken 
 by surprise, by keeping the spare cattle and horses 
 well together, with our powerful lanterns in full 
 
AjV importune breakdown. 215 
 
 state of Illumination both before and behind them. 
 Certainly, the locality looked exactly such a place 
 as the king of beasts would select for an ambus- 
 cade, and I did not hesitate to express a hope to 
 Chummy that we should get through this gorge 
 without losing some of our stock, when smash, 
 almost with the report of a shot gun, went the 
 dissel-boom of the leading waggon, and the caval- 
 cade was brought to a standstill. 
 
 Of a truth, the road was rough, so rough that 
 no conveyance on earth but a Cape waggon would 
 have attempted its passage ; but our gear and fittings 
 had been so well tested that we had every faith in 
 their enduring any possible strain. Thus, the more 
 provoking was this accident, and occurring just at 
 a place where it was desirable all should hold 
 together. 
 
 To add to our inconvenience, the stupid bullocks 
 of the wrecked craft, now that they had no waggon 
 to draw, bolted, and nearly a quarter of an hour of 
 most valuable time was, in consequence, lost before 
 they could be recovered. But this was not all the 
 trouble in store for us that night ; the guard of the 
 spare stock must desert their charges to help to find 
 the truants, the consequence being that when they 
 returned there was not a loose horse or ox to be 
 found. This produced a further delay of half an 
 hour. 
 
 However, ''all's well that ends well." Cigar and 
 
2i6 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 I found a tree close at hand that suited for a tem- 
 porary dissel-boom. My American experience with 
 the axe in the lumber regions did me good service, 
 for soon I had the pole blocked out with an adze, 
 the eye reduced to the proper size, and the 2 -in. 
 auger in a few minutes cut the necessary hole for 
 a fresh skimmel-pin ; so, before an hour had expired 
 from the time of the accident occurring, we were 
 again under way. 
 
 An hour before day we entered a forest of quite 
 respectable timber, and entirely free from underbush, 
 where we outspanned in close vicinity to a cattle- 
 kraal. Here coffee was enjoyed, enriched by an 
 abundant supply of milk obtained from the herdsmen 
 in charge of it ; when again the word was inspan- 
 dmba I a^naga ! and ere the sun was an hour high, 
 we halted on the summit of a bluff overlooking the 
 long-sought Honey Vley. All knew we had still 
 some miles to go before water could be obtained, 
 but the scene before us was so beautiful that none 
 appeared in a hurry to depart. 
 
 The vley, which is about three miles long, but 
 much less wide, resembled exactly one of those 
 diminutive lakes to be found in Scotland, the water 
 breaking gently on the shores, with silent filmy mists 
 rising from it, while cattle, that is, vildebeeste, walked 
 along the opposite margin. Water was not expected 
 here, but could we disbelieve our eyes ? No, cer- 
 
G VINE A -FO WL. 2 1 7 
 
 talnly not — so Chummy and self argued — for there it 
 was, of a certainty ; but, before we had half completed 
 our descent to its shores, what a miserable deception 
 we found had been practised upon us, for we had 
 gazed upon the now hateful vley through the decep- 
 tive Influences of a mirage. Not a drop of water 
 was in It ; a crust of salt covered It from end to end ; 
 it was a fraud, and that of the basest kind. Never- 
 theless, the surroundings of this salt-pan were re- 
 markably beautiful, and reminded me much of the 
 picturesque bluffs to be found on the upper waters of 
 the Mississippi, U.S. ; but along the vley's margin, 
 just where the soil joined the sand that framed in the 
 earth deposit, was a thick fringe of lovely mimosa 
 trees, now doubly beautiful from their dense cover- 
 ing of fragrant yellow blossoms. 
 
 Detached parties of guinea-fowl were hurrying 
 across the open to the shelter of this grove. So 
 numerous were these game birds that I can safely 
 assert that many hundreds of them were in sight at 
 one time, so Chummy took his shot gun and hurried 
 off in their pursuit, with the hope of sport and add- 
 ing materially to our food supply. 
 
 Soon after I heard many rapid shots, so concluded 
 that ''spatch cock" would probably form no incon- 
 siderable part of the anxiously anticipated breakfast, 
 as for the last day or two meals had been hurried 
 and far from satisfactorily cooked. I can get on 
 well enough upon rough fare ; but that is no reason 
 
2i8 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 to say that I do not enjoy a well-cooked and well- 
 served meal when attainable. 
 
 As is my rule, I was trudging along at the head 
 of the cavalcade, hoping that the distance was short 
 to the outspan and water. One of the curs was with 
 me, whose objection to shooting — yes, and probably 
 his cowardice — made him a staunch attendant on the 
 waororons. 
 
 Well, this unworthy representative of a noble 
 race preceded me by a few paces, and, to my utter 
 amazement, pointed something — fancy such a brute 
 pointing— and, as far as I could see, the sand before 
 him was as bare as a plank ! Rather out of temper at 
 the absurdity of the whole affair, I attempted to force 
 the dog forward, but go he would not ; the creature 
 seemed dazed as well as terrified. This was a new 
 experience ; yet, arguing that there is never a result 
 without a cause, I called out for Cigar, who fortu- 
 nately was near. In a moment after he joined me, 
 and as he did so, down came his twenty-foot driving 
 whip on the ground, and under where his formidable 
 weapon struck, in the agony of a broken back, 
 writhed one of the largest puff-adders I have almost 
 ever seen. 
 
 I cannot say that the cur saved me from- being 
 bitten, or that, having been bitten, I should have 
 died; however, the ill-bred, badly conducted, and 
 worse-looking dog deserved my thanks. 
 
 We had scarcely reached our camping-place 
 
VEJ^V TRYING TO THE TEMPER. \2I9^ 
 
 when I ordered a halt, for the sand was very heavy 
 and the day becoming excessively warm. While 
 thus waiting, I perceived Chummy a short distance 
 behind, the rapidity of his walk indicating plainly 
 that he was desirous of overtaking us. Before he 
 had got over the last two hundred yards I could see 
 at a glance that something was wrong, for the native 
 who carried his gun and game had an indecision iq 
 his progression that said plainly ''the further I keep 
 from my employer the better ; " while again, some 
 distance in rear of him, came three of the dogs, of 
 whom the pointer was one, whose expressions and 
 manners were so indisputably marked " shamefacey," 
 that there could not exist in the beholder's mind one 
 moment of doubt but that their conscience pricked 
 them for some act of ingratitude which hunger or a 
 love of mischief had induced them to perpetrate. 
 
 The annoyances my friend had been subjected 
 to were soon told. Out of the eight shots he had 
 fired, six guinea-fowl had been killed ; of these he 
 was only able to secure two, for between the grey- 
 hounds and the pointer the other birds had been 
 torn to pieces and eaten right before him. More- 
 over, the gun-bearer, in spite of every entreaty to 
 save the birds, was so slow In acting, that I fully 
 think that Chummy believed that he was 2. particeps 
 criminis in the dogs' offences, and therefore loth 
 to use any extra exertion to put a termination to 
 their tantalizing game. Another grievance against 
 
220 
 
 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT, 
 
 the dogs, in my friend's eyes, was that they would 
 not come up when called, like respectable, well- 
 broken animals, and receive the whipping they justly 
 merited. In truth, I did not blame them for their 
 caution. Dogs are wonderful judges of physiognomy, 
 and Chummy's physiognomy told, as plain as lan- 
 guage could express, what they might expect if once 
 captured. 
 
 raven's head {Corvuliur albicollis). 
 
CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 THE BIG ZULU IN FORM — BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY. 
 
 Treck, treck, was again the pass-word ; the patient 
 steers once more strained upon their yokes ; inch by 
 inch we cut our way through the heavy sand, and 
 soon entered upon firm ground, when the rate of 
 progression Increased. From it we got to grass 
 land, crisp, short, and firm, when the cattle broke 
 into a trot, and in a few minutes after we were out- 
 spanned upon what, with some show of justice, 
 might be called the village green. 
 
 All the mature men, those that were young and 
 fit for active service, were away from the kraal with 
 their chief, Bareekey ; thus we were received by that 
 potentate's new wife and a large staff of eligible 
 young ladies, the whole being under the care of three 
 decrepit greybeards, of an average age of at least 
 fourscore years. These venerables unquestionably 
 did their best to preserve propriety in the ranks of 
 their charges, and I doubt not but that they thought 
 that they succeeded admirably; but never were elderly 
 
222 BAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 gentlemen more mistaken, for the court attachment 
 among the young ladies of Honey Vley knew how 
 to flirt, make eyes, and exhibit other blandishments 
 as well as any of their white sisters that I ever came 
 in contact with. 
 
 The heart of William, the big Zulu, was evi- 
 dently affected by the attention he received from these 
 nymphs, for he confided to me, quite innocently, that 
 he thought he would rather remain at Honey Vley 
 than go back to Zululand, more especially as he 
 could get a wife here without buying her, and there 
 was more than one of the young ladies who appeared 
 to think that she would not object to his making 
 this change of nationality. This I am not so much 
 surprised at, for William was really a very handsome 
 fellow, straight as a rush, broad-chested, without 
 an ounce of superfluous flesh, while his muscular 
 development was simply grand. 
 
 Like the majority of big men, a little ''fatty- 
 plumpy " baby-faced miss seemed to find greatest • 
 favour in his sight, while the jealousy she caused 
 in the breasts of her sisters of more stalwart pro- 
 portions was quite delightful to witness. Several 
 times angry passages of words passed between her 
 and them ; and when such occurred it was evident 
 that the little one's tongue was quite a match for her 
 antagonists'. At length the chief's wife took her 
 departure, and with her went the whole retinue ; so, 
 once more, we had the camp to ourselves, if I except 
 
AN INSUBORDINATE POINTER. 223 
 
 a couple of aged warriors, who were doubtlessly left 
 to act as spies upon our actions. 
 
 One of these men was far from a bad fellow in 
 his way, was quite communicative, and had evidently 
 been a great Nimrod in his time. From him I 
 learned that a family of lions had taken up their re- 
 sidence in a kloof not over a couple of miles distant, 
 and that one of this interesting coterie had had the 
 presumption to carry off a kid a few days back, about 
 milking time (sunset), from almost the very spot on 
 which we were now outspanned. We mutually 
 agreed to defer our search for their tawny majesties 
 till the morrow. 
 
 After tiffin — or breakfast, whichever you like to 
 call it, for both meals were combined in one — I took 
 a stroll over the adjoining grass lands, and so great 
 were the numbers of quails I flushed, that I resolved 
 to tie up all the dogs, except the pointer, procure my 
 shot gun, and go in for a regular afternoon's enjoy- 
 ment. No sooner had I come to this decision than 
 I acted upon it. However, I was a little delayed 
 by the insubordination of Donna, the pointer, whom 
 want of work had made quite regardless of conse- 
 quences as well as defiant of all orders. After 
 several fruitless efforts, I ultimately succeeded in 
 catching her and making her acquainted with the 
 virtues of a piece of green rheim. It is astonishing 
 what a wholesome effect this treatment had ; morally 
 and physically she became at once an altered being, 
 
224 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 and would, from the time of her punishment to her 
 return home, have done credit to her master even at 
 a field trial. 
 
 Seldom have I seen quails so abundant, although 
 I have occasionally made wonderful bags of them 
 by the shores of the Mediterranean and in China. 
 From their extreme tameness on this occasion, I 
 should imagine that they had just arrived after a 
 long migration. These birds are identical with 
 those that occasionally visit our British shores — in 
 fact, the Coturnix communis. Although I have 
 found this game little beauty scattered nearly all 
 over South Africa, it is only periodically that they 
 arrive in large numbers. Thus, in 1865, countless^ 
 flights of them found their way even into the 
 suburbs of Cape Town. Another quail is also found 
 in this part of the world, but it is very scarce, so 
 that for purposes of sport it is almost unnecessary to 
 enumerate it ; however, in the eyes of the ornitho- 
 logical collector it is a specimen of no mean value. 
 Its classical name is Cotui^nix kistrionica. Mr. 
 Chapman, the well-known traveller and naturalist, 
 obtained specimens of this species in the vicinity of 
 Lake Ngami. 
 
 But to return to my shooting, When I had 
 bagged about fifteen couple I despatched them by 
 my attendant to our camp, so that some might be 
 prepared for our evening meal. The afternoon had 
 got clouded over, and a fresh breeze sprung up, 
 
GAME ABUNDANT. 225 
 
 making exercise delightful — in fact, producing a 
 craving for it ; so further and further from the wag- 
 gons I wandered. At length I reached the summit 
 of the ridges of hills that bounded to the north the 
 valley in which the station of Honey Vley is situated. 
 From there I beheld a lovely stretch of country, not 
 unlike what can be seen among the Surrey hills, 
 only the emerald-like greenness of the herbage was 
 wanting. After rain such would not have been the 
 case ; still, the landscape had none of that burned up, 
 arid appearance that the hills of Spain present from 
 the seaboard at midsummer, and this attractive 
 land is situated on the margin of the great Kalihari 
 Desert. Desert is a misnomer for that country ; the 
 term is apt to mislead people, and induce the reader 
 to think that the Kalihari is exactly like the Sahara. 
 Not so ; the former is covered at intervals with trees 
 and grass, the latter is an almost illimitable ocean of 
 sand. 
 
 From the ridge that I had gained, I detected a 
 large extent of mealy gardens and grass ; there I 
 resolved to proceed to refill my bag, as appearances 
 were very much in its favour to find quail there 
 abundant. 
 
 Springbok and vildebeeste I found numerous, 
 but wild ; as I advanced, they kept retreating, some- 
 times gathering in dense bodies, again separating, 
 but always advancing up wind. However, the quail 
 did not appear to regard them, for on the ground 
 
 Q 
 
226 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT 
 
 that these antelopes had passed over the pointer 
 found abundant occupation, and single and double 
 shots were afforded in rapid succession. Here my 
 boy rejoined me. Soon after he called my attention 
 to the fact of the herd of large game dividing when 
 they came in the vicinity of about a dozen or more 
 mapani bushes, one half taking a wide detour to the 
 westward, the other half to the eastward. The 
 Hottentot did not understand this circumstance, 
 and, more, did not like it ; but after a short time he 
 got less uneasy, when he informed me that he 
 thought that there was a hyaena or jackal in that 
 bush. So on I went shooting, thinking little and 
 caring less what kind of beast it was, as long as I 
 filled my bag or made good shooting. By this time 
 the pointer was within thirty yards of the mapani 
 brush, quartering her ground at racing pace, when 
 she suddenly pulled up, and half pointing, half draw- 
 ing, advanced direct for the cover. I and the boy 
 were not over twenty yards behind her, when, at less 
 than double that distance, directly in front of the 
 dog, a magnificent black-maned lion showed himself 
 At first I thought the beast was determined to 
 charge, from the circumstance that he held his tail 
 aloft, almost as stiff as a broom-handle, and curled 
 up his lips so as to exhibit his teeth ; but if such had 
 been his first resolve, he soon changed his intention. 
 Possibly this was caused by the action of the pointer, 
 who, from the first, evinced an inclination to get 
 
A PLUCKY DOG. 227 
 
 behind the Hon, and I have little doubt with a desire 
 to try her tusks on his hide ; for this dog, as I have 
 said before, was entirely without fear. Of course, 
 she might have paid dearly for her temerity; pos- 
 sibly escaped scatheless, for often the very rashness 
 of a deed saves the perpetrator from punishment. 
 
 The noble beast, after viewing us for about three 
 minutes, slowly and hesitatingly turned round and 
 retired, first in a very measured walk, which gradually 
 became more hurried as the distance between us was 
 increased ; all the time, however, keeping an eye 
 upon the foe, so as to note what was their course of 
 action. When the retire was changed into a hurried 
 retreat, to my alarm I beheld the fearless Donna 
 bring up the rear, and giving tongue in pursuit, like 
 a whole pack of beagles. 
 
 If I had been charged, I was determined what to 
 do, viz. wait till the enemy was within nearly touching 
 distance, then give him the contents of both barrels 
 in the face. By adopting such a course I once 
 killed a bear in Wisconsin ; but bears are not lions. 
 I have forgotten to say that my attendant, the Hot- 
 tentot, although armed with nothing but a stick, 
 stuck to my elbow like a man, and never evinced by 
 look or gesture one particle of fear. Thus I lost a 
 chance of adding a trophy to my collection which 
 few have ever had, and which I. am not likely to 
 have again. 
 
 My henchman, Cigar, when he heard the adven- 
 
228 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 ture narrated, was full of excitement, and carefully 
 made his plans for to-morrow's campaign ; every 
 villager fit for work was to be pressed into the service, 
 and as to the result, well, he had no doubt upon that 
 point, It was simply bound to be successful, but we 
 will see — " Man proposes, God disposes." 
 
 I should mention, by the way, that Cigar has 
 picked up an old acquaintance here. He is a cousin, 
 of course, as he always dubs his friends. But I have 
 come to the conclusion that this endearing appella- 
 tion is employed to make the visitor free of the flesh- 
 pots ; for who ever heard of a Hottentot lacking in 
 hospitality, especially when his employer is the 
 sufferer ? This man is remarkable in appearance for 
 nothing but his ugliness ; but If he receives a true 
 character as a spoorer and hunter, he is second to no 
 one in Africa south of the Zambesi. Judging from 
 the conversation of these two worthies and the time 
 it lasted — long after midnight — they have gone 
 through some stirring adventures together, when 
 ivory hunting was a profitable business. This in- 
 cessant chattering doubtless kept off the nocturnal 
 prowlers, for not a growl, snarl, or howl disturbed 
 the stillness of the night. 
 
 In the morning Madame Bareekey showed the 
 cloven foot. On our arrival she had supplied us 
 with milk at sixpence a bottle. Through whim, or 
 freak, she now demanded two shillings for the same 
 quantity. Arguing against such extortion is useless ; 
 
AN ANGRY WOMAN 229 
 
 |So I took a firm stand, and told her ladyship that, 
 sooner than concede to her demands, we would do 
 without milk. So off she flounced to the village, 
 with all her retinue in attendance, vowing at the top 
 of their voices, and gesticulating with all the energy 
 that their arms could command, that never since they 
 could remember had they seen such a skinflint white 
 man as myself. As we intended remaining here 
 some days, it would never have done to have sub- 
 mitted to be imposed upon in regard to the milk, for 
 everything else that we required from the natives 
 would have at once gone up in proportion. How- 
 ever, madame knew how to be revenged upon us, 
 and in a manner we least expected it, viz. by taboo- 
 ing the white men, and forbidding any of her people 
 to show us game or even inform us where it was to 
 be found. 
 
 Cigar had a very oily tongue, and could lie like 
 a pickpocket when occasion required, so I gave him 
 diplomatic powers to try and bring the quarrel to a 
 termination ; but, although he went backwards and 
 forwards between the waggons and village all the 
 morning, at midday he was as far off from coming 
 to terms as he had been when he undertook his 
 mission. Thus, after tiffin, I resolved to fire a part- 
 ing shot at the foe, which I fondly hoped was certain 
 to make her haul down her colours, viz. send her a 
 copy of her husband's letter, given me on my road 
 up country, enjoining her to treat me with unbounded 
 
 Q 3 
 
12,0 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 hospitality, and order her people to show me all the 
 game in the locality. For half an hour I patiently 
 waited to learn the success of this last effort. 
 Soon after I perceived Cigar returning, escorted by 
 madame and all her maids. Inwardly I chuckled 
 to myself, ''At length I have made you surrender." 
 But I had counted my chickens before they were 
 hatched. 
 
 With stately step and flashing eyes, the lady 
 sailed into the camp.; When she reached me she 
 halted, and her retinue ranged themselves on each 
 side of their leader. With the utmost gravity and 
 order this was accomplished, after which a pause 
 ensued, then madame, holding out the copy of 
 Bareekey's letter in her left hand and pointing to it 
 with her right in the most scornful manner, spoke. 
 
 '' This is from Bareekey, is it, and he orders me to 
 give you what you want, and orders me " (with great 
 scorn) " to send my people to hunt with you ? Am I 
 a Zulu that was bought with cows, or a slave of 
 a Kaffir from the old colQrty ? No ; I own this 
 country, my father gave it to me, and it is mine. 
 Bareekey comes here when it suits his pleasure, 
 but let him come or stay away, I'll have none of 
 his orders. Thus I respect them." And the ter- 
 magant tore the offensive slip' of paper into the 
 tiniest particles and scattered it to the winds. 
 
 A round of approving applause greeted this dis- 
 play of rhetoric. When it had subsided, the indignant 
 
GORDON GUMMING. 231 
 
 ^dusky matron drew her drapery around her, for she 
 wore a cotton skirt, turned on her heels, and marched 
 off at the head of her black satellites. Cigar was my 
 Interpreter ; word for word he translated what she 
 said, and much was I disappointed. I must truly 
 acknowledge that I never saw a finer piece of acting 
 in my life. 
 
 To get over my annoyance, I mounted my horse 
 and went for a ride. About five miles from home I 
 came across a quantity of game, and the first elands 
 I had seen this trip. They were apparently in very 
 poor condition, and on extremely bad galloping 
 ground, so I let them go; not that we did not 
 require meat, but for the reason that they would 
 have taken a great deal out of my horse before I 
 could have forced them to come to a standstill. 
 
 On my way home I visited the honey cave, from 
 which the kraal takes its name. It is situated in the 
 face of a bluff that overlooks the salt-pan, and still 
 contains an immense quantity of honey. This place 
 is historical among hunters' annals, for here the 
 mighty Nimrod, Gordon Gumming, long resided. 
 Then it was the centre of the finest elephant and 
 rhinoceros district, probably, in all South Africa. 
 Alas ! none of these mammoths of the animal 
 creation are to be found at the present day within 
 hundreds of miles of it. The indiscriminate in- 
 troduction of firearms by the traders is the cause of 
 the wholesale butchery that has occurred of these 
 
232 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 valuable beasts. It is common for us, the residents 
 of Great Britain, to rail against Americans for having 
 permitted the buffalo to become exterminated on 
 their Western prairies. Wherever we have gone we 
 have done likewise. Does the adage about those 
 that live in glass houses never occur to us ? 
 
 On returning to camp, I found that things had 
 not gone smoothly during my absence. William, the 
 big Zulu, had been detected in purloining sugar and 
 other stores to give to his lady love, so was now a 
 prisoner ; the bullocks had been permitted, through 
 the want of attention of the herd, to enter some of 
 the natives' gardens, and do no end of mischief to 
 their melon crops, for which injury Madame Bareekey 
 demanded a startling indemnity, not an iota of which 
 charge would she abate. Arguing with an angry 
 woman is ever futile. This instance, although the 
 lady was black, was no exception to the rule ; so high 
 words and abusive epithets on her side were becom- 
 ing dominant, when two strangers arrived. One 
 was poor Paddy, the other a trader whom I had 
 known for some years. The former had fallen in 
 with some of his favourite Boers, who had almost 
 stripped him, maltreated him fearfully, and left him 
 upon the veldt to die. Fortunately his present 
 comrade found him, and relieved and sheltered him 
 in his dreadful plight. But why had they sought 
 me ? Well, to give me information that these free- 
 booting scoundrels had heard of my whereabouts, 
 
" HOJV ARE THE MIGHTY FALLEN.'' 233 
 
 and were in consequence resolved upon the capture 
 and appropriation of all my property. Paddy and 
 his acquaintance had ridden hard to give me timely 
 warning, and even now, at the uttermost, I had not 
 above three or four days' grace before the raiders 
 would be at Honey Vley. This information fell like 
 a clap of thunder on Madame Bareekey. Terrible 
 was her anguish when she heard that the dreaded 
 Boers were about to visit her ; and she, who had 
 formerly ruled with a rod of iron, now became the 
 weakest of her sex. 
 
 " Would we desert her "^ Would we not stay 
 and put up seances (loop-holed walls) and defend 
 her 1 We might have milk, beef, everything without 
 payment ; but surely we would not leave her to the 
 tender mercies of the Boers." 
 
 As the station was admirably situated for defence, 
 and could really be made strong by throwing up a 
 few earthworks, and the digging of some rifle-pits to 
 command the entrance to the kraal, we determined 
 to remain for a time. But the dreaded enemy did 
 not come ; so we resolved to treck to Kania, in 
 Hasesheba's country, there to wait results, as the 
 disturbed state of the country put further hunting 
 out of the question. 
 
 However, in concluding this volume, and the 
 second series of "The Game of South Africa," I 
 would say, for the information of those who do not 
 crave for the destruction of elephants and kindred 
 
234 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 
 
 mammoths, that there are few places where they will 
 find greater varieties of game, a prettier country, and 
 a more delightful climate than are to be met with at 
 Honey Vley, on the eastern margin of the Kalihari 
 Desert. 
 
 JACKALS. 
 
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