THE CAPE HYAINA. 227 
The spoor of the Hyzna is somewhat similar to, but larger than that of the dog; the 
nails not being retractile, usually leave an impression upon soft ground, which is not the 
case with the leopard. The inside toe of each foot is smaller than the outside, and the 
footmarks can be easily recognised and distinguished from those of dogs. 
During one warm afternoon, whilst riding over the grassy slopes on the banks of the 
Umganie River, near Pietermaritzberg, and attended by a cunning old pointer, I saw the 
dog stand on the brink of an old watercourse, and bark fiercely at some object which 
appeared to be stationed below. I knew that the bark and the expression which accom- 
panied it was the dog-language for ‘ there’s something here,’ so I dismounted, and walked 
towards the dyke. As I approached, the dog, with an aspect of alarm, sprang back, and 
then rushed forward agam. From having had several unpleasant rencontres with 
poisonous snakes I had become very cautious, and advanced so slowly that I was only 
enabled to catch a glimpse of a Hyena, which, upon seeing me, immediately retreated 
into an opening. 
I descended the steep bank and found a large hole, which appeared to be the 
entrance to a subterraneous passage, by which the water obtained an exit. I collected a 
few sticks and some long grass, which I placed over the entrance, and then endeavoured 
to trace the course of this passage, to see if there were another opening. 
About fifty yards from the first I found a second hole, which evidently led to the 
first ; neither of these were large enough to admit me, and the dog could not have done 
much good even had he entered; but he appeared to have a great objection to approach 
too near to the den. 
After some consideration, I determined to cut a quantity of the dry grass, to fill one 
opening with it, set it on fire, and then to watch near the other hole. This plan failed to 
unearth the creature, so I reversed the arrangement, but with no better success. 
At length I fired several bullets into the opening, trusting that a stray shot might 
strike near the Hyzna, and that it would drive him into open ground. The sinuosities 
of the passage prevented the possibility of a fair shot. 
Whilst thus engaged, the dog suddenly barked and dashed off. Upon reaching the 
top of the bank, I saw the Hyzena scrambling over the hills, closely followed by my dog. 
I mounted my pony, but the pace was too good for him. I however held the Hyzena in 
view for a considerable time as it passed over the successive ridges, but the pointer soon 
gave up his pursuit. 
I think that when the ordinary game is driven away by sporting men, or killed by 
sportsmen, Hyna-hunting with a pack of hounds would be found very good sport, and 
perhaps we should have Hyzena-hunters sneering at fox-hunters as much as some fox- 
hunters now do at ‘thistle-whippers.’ 
The Hyena is frequently caught in a trap of simple construction. Stakes are driven 
into the ground so as to form an inclosure, and a hanging door of stone, sustained by a 
cord, closes the aperture when it falls. A bait is placed at the farther end of the trap, 
and the whole contrivance is like a large mouse-trap. When caught, the Hyzna is 
despatched with spears and clubs, or is shot. 
The traveller is frequently disturbed during the night by the daring Hyznas, who 
will sneak about his waggons in search of leather straps, trektows, and other savoury 
provender ; and if a pair of shoes or some leather breeches happened to be left in an 
exposed situation during the dark hours, they may be considered lost without redemption, 
for such a supper would be an unlooked-for uxury by the gaunt brute.” 
One of these animals was discovered in a state of sad laceration. The two fore-paws 
were gone, and the legs themselves had been frightfully torn, evidently by some powerful 
beast of prey. The natives said that the Hyzna had been thus punished by the lion for 
interfering with his arrangements, and stated, moreover, that the lion frequently corrected 
the forward conduct of the Hyena, by biting off every one of its paws. This statement, 
curious as it may seem, was corroborated by several experienced hunters. 
Although in former days the Hyzna was supposed to be a wholly untameable 
animal, later experiments have shown that it is nearly as tractable and affectionate as a 
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