184 Observations on the Origin of the Bushmen. 



second plan, he remarks the direction the animal is following 

 and the position of the best vegetation in the quarter towards 

 which he is proceeding, and having fully satisfied himself as 

 to its probable course, he digs a hole in the ground, and there 

 conceals himself till fate determines what shall be the result 

 The third mode, or that by decoys, is practised generally with 

 success where the requisites for forming such are procurable. 

 They are principally, if not invariably, executed through the 

 instrumentality of young animals, which, when obtained, are 

 fixed a little way in advance of a low bush fence, behind which 

 the hunter is secreted, and from whence he destroys the dame, 

 as she visits her offspring. Another description of plan he 

 follows, and one not less successful, in hunting the ostrich, 

 namely, that of digging a hole close to a nest, and concealing 

 himself therein. When in that position, and having pre- 

 viously provided himself with a dog, he throws it upon the 

 eggs, and as soon as the bird sees the animal in that position, 

 it hastens to the spot to drive him away, when it instantly 

 falls a victim to the ingenuity of its betrayer. 



Snares they construct in various ways, and by such they 

 often greatly increase their supplies. Some are formed of 

 nooses placed in positions through which animals are accus- 

 tomed to pass, and others consist of large and deep holes dug 

 in the ground, and so covered over with grass and other 

 articles as not to be distinguishable from the surrounding 

 parts till discomposed by the steps of a visitor, when it is 

 usually too late to discover the fraud. By this method, when 

 practised in situations where water or grazing ground occur, 

 sea-cows, zebras, quaggas, and various of the antelope species 

 are frequently obtained. By the formation of trenches or long 

 narrow ditches, grass-hoppers are also commonly entrapped, 

 particularly when driven in great abundance towards them, 

 as when they fall therein they are totally unable to escape 

 again. The resort of the white ants they discover by observ- 

 ing the hole at which they enter the ground, and when that 

 is accomplished, and the object is to secure the young, they 

 dig away the earth till the nest is discovered, when it is imme- 

 diately exposed, and the larvae as well as many of the older 

 specimens are selected. In the pursuit of these, they often 

 dig holes several feet in depth, and three or four in diameter ; 

 and after that, they are not unfrequently disappointed of the 

 objects in view. When, however, they are successful, they 

 carry the fruits thereof to their temporary residence, and there, 

 by the assistance of a small piece of dried skin, remove all the 

 earth and other impurities, after which they either devour the 

 remainder or else place them in a pot upon the fire and warm it 

 a little ; during which time they keep agitating the contents, 

 so as to prevent them from burning, &c. After a few minutes 



