BUNTIXO THE GIRAFFE. 297 



The soil of the surrounding country was white and yellow sand, 

 but grass, trees, and bushes were abundant. From the borders 

 of the fountain a hzndred well-trodden elephant foot-paths led 

 away in every direction, like the radii of a circle. The breadth 

 of these paths was about three feet ; those leading to the north- 

 ward and east was most frequented, the country in those directions 

 being well wooded. We drew up the wagons on a hillock on the 

 eastern side of the water. This position commanded a good view 

 >f any game that might approach to drink. I had just cooked 

 my breakfast, and commenced to feed when I heard my men ex- 

 claim. Almagtig keek de ghroote clomp cameel :" and raising my 

 eyes from tny sassayby stew, I beheld a truly beautiful and very 

 unusual scene. From the margin of the fountain there extended 

 an open level vley, without tree or bush, that stretched away about 

 a mile to the northward, where it was bounded by extensive 

 groves of wide-spreading mimosas. Up the middle of this vley 

 stalked a troop of ten colossal giraffes, flanked by two large herds 

 of blue wildebeests and zebras, with an advanced guard of pallahs. 

 They were all coming to the fountain to drink, and would be 

 within rifle-shot of the wagons before I could finish my breakfast. 

 I, however, continued to swallow my food with the utmost expedition, 

 having directed my men to catch and saddle Colesberg. In a 

 few minutes the giraffes were slowly advancing within two hun- 

 dred yards, stretching their graceful nex^ks, and gazing in wonder 

 at the unwonted wagons. Grasping my rifle, I now mounted 

 Colesberg, and rode slowly toward them. They continued gazing 

 at the wagons until I was within one hundred yards of them, 

 when, wisking their long tails over their rumps, they made off at 

 an easy canter. As I pressed upon them they increased their 

 pace ; but Colesberg had much the speed of them, and before we 

 had proceeded half a mile I was riding by the shoulder of the 

 dark-chestnut old bull, whose head towered above the rest. Letting 

 fly at the gallop, I wounded him behind the shoulder ; soon after 

 which I broke him from the herd, and presently going ahead of 

 him, he came to a stand. I then gave him a second bullet, some- 

 nhere near the first. These two shots had taken effect, and hts 



