CAPE HUNTING DOG OR WILDE HONDE 



quiver full of poisoned arrows, the slightest punc- 

 ture from one of which resulted in death. 



When the strong and warlike Kafir tribes swept 

 down from the north and spread over South Africa, 

 the wild dog had a still more formidable enemy, for 

 they had a habit of gathering together in great 

 bodies and making organised attacks by surrounding 

 packs of these wild dogs which made such persistent 

 attacks upon their stock. Lacking firearms, the 

 Kafirs, however, could not make much headway 

 against such fleet and cunning enemies, and, acting 

 on the defensive, they resorted to carefully shutting 

 up their stock in kraals at night, and guarding them 

 during the daytime when at pasture. 



When the European colonist made his appearance 

 in the country, he found it overrun with Cape 

 Hunting Dogs, which are as big as an average-sized 

 mastiff. These large, powerful, fleet and cunning 

 animals ever and anon swooped down upon his 

 flocks and herds and devastated them. Should the 

 shepherd doze and allow his flock to wander to a 

 distance, a pack of wild dogs, which had been watch- 

 ing from afar, with a swinging but swift gallop 

 would dash among the sheep or goats, and even if 

 the shepherd should appear almost at once upon 

 the scene, these bold and bloodthirsty animals will 

 already have mortally wounded scores of them. 

 They are never content to attack and devour a few. 

 Once in the midst of a flock of sheep or goats, they 

 kill and rend until the ground is drenched with 



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