A KARROO FARM. 249 



light our pipes, and lounge for just ten minutes on 

 the stoep (verandah). 



Away out upon the plains yonder, the nearest 

 of them not 700 yards distant, graze the dainty 

 springboks, which yesterday we hunted. If we lay 

 down and took a long steady aim, with carefully- 

 adjusted sights, we might even knock one over from 

 the door here. But it is neither fair nor discreet to 

 disturb the beauties too often, and we leave them 

 to-day to wander undisturbed. 



Our busy host is soon ready for us, and at once 

 carries us off to the ostrich camp to see some of his 

 birds clipped. Passing a young half-tame baboon- 

 known as Adonis tied up to an outhouse, and just 

 stopping to exchange a morning greeting with the 

 cunning and amusing rascal, we cross the deep spruit 

 of the dry river, and shortly arrive at the ostrich 

 camp. This camp is a vast enclosure of between 

 3,000 and 4,000 acres, surrounded by wire-fencing 

 about four feet ten inches high. Great care has 

 been taken with this fencing, and it is now, by an 

 ingenious arrangement of wires laid flat upon the 

 ground, rendered jackal proof. These wires, twelve 

 in number, are towards the bottom set three inches 

 apart, the lowest one resting on the ground. The 

 jackal begins to burrow, and expecting to get quickly 

 beneath the upright fence, comes in contact with 

 the bottom ground-laid wire. Instead of retreating 

 a little and then beginning to burrow, the foolish 

 animal (in other matters terrestrial crafty enough) 

 runs farther down the fence, and tries again with 

 same result; and, finally, after repeated attempts, 

 throws up the sponge, and admits the fence to be 

 the conqueror. This is a well-ascertained fact, and a 



