238 EXPEDITION INTO [Chap. XXVII. 



When I leisurely contemplated the massive frame 

 before me, seeming as though it had been cast in a 

 mould of brass, and protected by a hide of an inch 

 and a half in thickness, it was no longer matter of 

 astonishment that a bullet discharged from a distance 

 of eighty or ninety yards should have been at- 

 tended with little effect upon such amazing strength. 

 The extreme height from the crown of the elegantly 

 moulded head to the hoof of this magnificent 

 animal, was eighteen feet; the whole being equally 

 divided into neck, body, and leg. Two hours were 

 passed in completing a drawing ; and Piet still not 

 making his appearance, I cut off the tail, which 

 exceeded five feet in length, and was measurelessly 

 the most estimable trophy I had gained ; but pro- 

 ceeding to saddle my horse, which I had left quietly 

 grazing by the side of a running brook, my chagrin 

 may be conceived, when I discovered that he had 

 taken advantage of my occupation to free himself 

 from his halter, and abscond. Being ten miles 

 from the waggons, and in a perfectly strange coun- 

 try, T felt convinced that the only chance of re- 

 covering my pet, was by following the trail, whilst 

 doing which with infinite difficulty, the ground 

 scarcely deigning to receive a foot-print, [ had the 

 satisfaction of meeting Piet and Mohanycom, who 

 had fortunately seen and re-captured the truant. 

 Returning to the giraffe, we all feasted heartily 

 upon the flesh, which, although highly scented at 

 this season with the rank mokaala blossoms, was 

 far from despicable ; and after losing our way in 



