212 AFRICAN NATURE NOTES chap. 



Lopepe and Metsi-butluku — I have upon more than 

 one occasion seen giraffes and springbucks at the 

 same time. In such districts, before the days of 

 the modern long-range, small-bore rifles, it was 

 very difficult to get within shot of the former 

 animals on foot, as, owing to the great height 

 of their heads above the ground and their quick- 

 ness of sight, they were always able to see any- 

 thing approaching them, when still a long way off. 

 Giraffes are also very keen-scented, as any one will 

 agree who has often followed on their spoor with 

 Bushmen trackers. Pointing to the ground, on 

 which they have read as in a book that just here the 

 giraffes have commenced to run, these quick-sighted 

 savages will suddenly dash off along the spoor with 

 right arms extended, crying, "Sabili; ootlili pevu"^ 

 ("They've run away ; they've got our wind "). Run- 

 ning on the tracks of the disturbed animals at a pace 

 which it requires a sharp canter to keep up with, it is 

 seldom that these wiry sons of the desert will not 

 bring the mounted hunter in sight of the giant 

 quarry. '' Tutla, tutla ki-o " (''The giraffes; there 

 are the giraffes "), they cry, pointing eagerly forwards 

 with glistening eyes. And then it is for the white 

 man to do his part and secure a plentiful supply of 

 meat for his savage friends. 



The chase of the giraffe on horseback lacks, of 

 course, the fierce joy and the soul -stirring excite- 

 ment which accompanied elephant- and lion-hunting, 

 with the rude muzzle-loading guns used by profes- 

 sional African hunters some forty years ago ; for 

 the giraffe is a most harmless and inoffensive animal, 

 in no way dangerous to human life. The same 

 thing may, however, be said of the fox and the wild 

 red deer of Exmoor, the pursuit of which animals, 

 it is generally conceded, affords some of the most 

 exhilarating sport procurable in this country. 



^ Literally. '* They've /^^rtjrt/ the wind.'' 



