CHAPTER VIII 



WHAT IS LEARNT FROM SPOOR. 



SPOOR teaches one (i.) what kind of animals are in a country; (ii.) what they 

 eat ; (iii.) where they drink ; (iv.) when they were at the spot at which 

 the spoor is found ; and also a number of other things connected with 

 their mode of hving. Spoor, if followed, will also guide one to where the animal 

 itself is. 



In the bush and forest a knowledge of spoor and tracking is indispensable 

 to anyone who wishes to meet with any great measure of success. In the plains 

 it is not necessary, and indeed, would be of little account, for there is hardly a 

 question of failing to find any particular animal wanted. 



In the bush and forests of this country native hunters lay traps and snares, 

 and hunt with dogs and poisoned arrows. In all their hunting they hardly ever 

 do any tracking. They notice by the spoor the places frequented by whatever 

 game they want, and, trusting to the local habits of the game, set their traps 

 and snares there. When following animals to shoot with poisoned arrows they 

 leave it to the dogs to do the tracking and the rounding-up of the game. With 

 elephant a certain amount of tracking has to be done, but there again the native 

 hunter relies chiefly on his knowledge of the animals' habits and haunts, rather 

 than on his power to follow their spoor. 



Soon after coming to this country, I was out with a native hunter, and we 

 put up some hartebeests suddenly and they galloped off. According to custom 

 I got on their spoor and commenced to follow them. The native hunter appeared 

 to get very impatient at this proceeding, and continually beckoned me on. So 

 at last I left the spoor and followed him to see what he wanted to show me. 

 After going about ten minutes through wooded country he brought me out into 

 the open again, and there was the same herd of hartebeest. This surprised me 

 greatly for two reasons. First, that it was so unlike the animals I had been 

 accustomed to hunt for a herd to have stopped again so soon after being 

 frightened. Secondly, that the hunter should know where to find them. For 

 a few hours I thought that I had discovered a marvel in the way of a hunter, but 

 I soon found that I was mistaken. The herd of hartebeest wandered backwards 



