THE GREAT THIRST LAND. Ill 



busily applied to their necks with fatal effect On 

 these occasions no birds are spared, whatever may 

 be the state of their plumage, as it seems that when 

 run to a standstill ostriches pine away and die 

 from the effects of over-exertion. 



Some years ago the best white feathers were 

 worth between $o and 60 per lb., and the others 

 in proportion. Some hundreds of natives were 

 employed by storekeepers to hunt every season, 

 and many closely packed waggon-loads of this 

 costly product of the desert annually arrived at 

 the Cape, but since ostrich farming has become 

 an industry the price of feathers has declined at 

 least by 80 per cent, and the hunt no longer pays 

 expenses, although wild feathers still sell for more 

 than those of tame birds. 



Few white men have joined in this sport, as 

 they are generally too heavy for their mounts, but 

 as the natives of this part of the world are usually 

 very light weights and capital horsemen, they had 

 it all to themselves, and could have made lots of 

 money had they not indulged recklessly in all 

 kinds of extravagance as soon as they drew their 

 pay. One Englishman of the historic name of 

 Tom Jones, however, went into the desert boldly, 



