BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 21 



not xrnnd at Macalisberg, and large flocks of Guinea-fowl 

 and pheasants. Having sent two of my people to shoot 

 buffaloes fur meat, they disturbed a rhinoceros, which chased 

 them ; the poor fellows hurried to a tree ; but the infuriated 

 beast followed so closely that they had not time to ascend 

 it, and in utter despair, they both fired at once, and their huge 

 foe dropped down dead. Having no meat at the waggon, 

 they brought home all the flesh of it they could carry. 

 Rhinoceros meat, when fat, is almost equal to beef; but 

 when lean, is nearly uneatable. I was very sorry to miss 

 killing a panther, which passed close to me while I was busy 

 looking for birds, but the shot in my gun being small, I 

 dared not meddle with him. About twenty natives, and 

 twice as many dogs belonging to them, keep hanging about 

 our waggon. I made them very happy with the giraffes, and 

 carcase of the buffalo we had killed ; and if these poor crea- 

 tures were not allowed to feast on the meat, the wild dogs 

 and hyaenas would soon secure it, for not the most careful 

 concealment with bushes and thorns, nor good fires burning 

 round the spot, are sufficient to scare the ravenous beasts 

 from such a repast. Many a time, the creatures we have 

 shot were pulled away and devoured before help could 

 be obtained from the waggon to secure them. A young 

 female giraffe, which one of the Hottentots caught, became 

 a troublesome but interesting charge. She was about seven 

 feet high, very wild and strong, and after being tied all day to 

 a tree, we were obliged to stand by the whole night, or she 

 would have strangled herself in fruitless efforts to escape j 

 and when we wanted to feed her, the only mode was to 

 fasten all her four legs and laying her gently down, to compel 

 her to swallow some milk. Two cows did not give milk 

 enough to supply her, and her unruly struggles prevented 

 her being left alone, night or day. I covered her with one 

 of my blankets, the cold nights appearing to disagree with 

 her, and' after two days we made our way back to the 

 waggon, that we might get more milk for her. She had 

 begun to eat Acacia leaves, and was growing tamer, when 



