240 



THE HUNTER'S ARCADIA. 



driver's whip, and, while I do so, I can conv< 

 with you without interruption to my work. Let me 

 say, before proceeding farther, that the fore-slaght 

 is a thin slip of brayed leather, about the size of a 

 boot-lace, and between two and three feet long. The 

 skin of the bless-bok is supposed to make the best, 

 and care must be taken in cutting it that it tapers 

 regularly from one end to the other. Moreover, it 

 has to be delicately trimmed down so as to remove 

 the edges, after which preparation it is stiffened by 

 being saturated in water or saliva. It requires a 

 sharp knife to produce a workmanlike one, and to 

 get the necessary keen edge nothing makes a better 

 strop than the side of a yoke-skey. 



Before I commence to narrate, take a look round 

 and see that the beasts are settled to their pasture. 

 You may well say it is a beautiful scene that surrounds 

 us, and not to be excelled in the eyes of those who 

 love nature, for it is a landscape, unchanged, un- 

 altered, since the Almighty vouchsafed it the finish- 

 ing touches of His master hand. 



I have stated that I sent for Cigar, the Hottentot. 

 Well, you want to know what manner of man he is, 

 and I will now record one of his adventures, as 



