328 WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WAYS CHAP, xix 



The Hamrun sword-hunter is a merciless but wonderful horse- 

 man, and should throe or four of these fellows form a party, they 

 will frequently kill seven or eight giraffes during one hunt. The 

 long and extremely sharp blade is exactly suited to this kind of 

 sport, as the hocks of the giraffe are so high above the ground 

 that they can be reached by the sword without the necessity of 

 stooping. The speed of the horse is naturally imparted to the 

 weapon, therefore when riding alongside, upon the left of the flying 

 animal, the slightest blow will sever the hamstring, and all further 

 movement is impossible. If the giraffe moved like ordinary 

 quadrupeds, it could continue upon three legs, but the fact of its 

 moving the legs of each side simultaneously renders it entirely 

 helpless when one has been disabled. 



I have never taken any great pleasure in shooting giraffes, as 

 they have always appeared to me the most harmless creatures that 

 exist. They never invade the natives' crops, neither do they attack 

 any animals, or man, but they simply enjoy themselves in their 

 harmless manner, their only enemies being the lion and human 

 beings. 



It is a curiously beautiful picture when a large herd of these 

 animals is seen upon bright green pasture, among dwarf-mimosas 

 and other small bushes, which, through contrast, enhance the great 

 height of the giraffes. I once counted one hundred and fifty-four, 

 all of which were within the area of 3 or 4 acres. I made a 

 successful stalk, and killed two by a right and left shot. One 

 had a broken shoulder, and was quite incapable of any movement, 

 beyond the slowest attempt at hobbling. I have never pursued 

 them except upon occasions when my people were devoid of meat, 

 as the destruction of such lovely creatures without some necessary 

 purpose I regarded as wanton cruelty. 



The eye of the giraffe is worth special study, as there is nothing 

 to compare with its beauty throughout the animal creation. 



Although some naturalists have termed the giraffe " a modified 

 deer," I cannot accept the definition, as there is nothing relating 

 to the deer, excepting the peculiarity of the horns, which have a 

 somewhat remote resemblance to those of a young stag. The deer 

 has a short tail, while that of the giraffe is long, and fringed with 

 so important a garniture of black hairs that it is in request for 

 whisking away the attacks of flies. The deer moves its legs like 

 other quadrupeds, while the action of a giraffe resembles that of 

 the camel. The general figure in no way approaches that of any 

 other animal, and I regard the giraffe as a creature entirely 

 separated from all others. 



