IN THE LION COUNTRY. . 625 



vert to the juice of the euphorbia. This is a family of plants all alike 

 foreign to the European eye in appearance, although not by any means 

 strictly tropical. Some species possess much more poisonous matter 

 than others, the most deadly being in appearance like a crooked pole 

 with a bunch of long, hard leaves decorating its summit. When em- 

 ployed by the natives for the purpose above spoken of, 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 im- 

 pregnates the water. At night unconscious 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. In this death I do not think the victims 

 suffer much pain, for all that I have seen that have been killed in this 

 manner were in the positions they would assume if they had laid down 

 to take their natural sleep. 



It is strange that this poison is much more injurious to horses, 

 zebras, and quaggas, than it is to cloven-hoofed or horned animals. 

 AVhy I state this is that while the former will not proceed over half 

 a mile after they have imbibed the subtile fluid before being incapaci- 

 tated from going farther, the latter will travel many miles ere they 

 drop, if drop they do, for I am convinced that many escape death 

 from this poison, although possibly brought Very close to it. 



To carnivorous animals, such as lions, leopards, hyenas, 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 diluted water. It is to be re- 

 gretted 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 carcasses, for 

 it must be remembered that in these regions decomposition sets in 

 very rapidly after life becomes extinct. 



The third poison used by these most interesting natives, the Bush- 

 men, is that taken from the glands of the Mamba cobra, or puff-adder, 

 with which the points of their arrows are thickly coated. Exposure 

 appears to weaken these reptiles' virus, for, previous to any impor- 

 tant hunt taking place, the barbs of the tiny weapons receive a fresh 

 dressing of the baneful fluid. Game killed by all the above methods 

 is eaten by the human family, or carnivora, without producing any 

 evil effects. Land and Water. 



TOL. XXIX. 40 



