A RUSH TO THE BUSI 



black, marked with orange on the flanks and belly ; 

 its head presents some likeness to that of a wolf. 

 The ears are upright and large, and the tail is thick. 

 It barks like a dog. Very active, it hunts, say the 

 negroes, in large packs, driving the antelopes in a 

 chase. The one I killed was not alone, and closed the 

 march of a pack, which took to flight at the report of the 

 rifle. It seems that they do not always behave in this 

 manner, and that sometimes they attack the hunter. l 



From our camp we reach, in a single march, the 

 Revoue, where we pass the night. Before sunset I 

 set out to hunt and have travelled some distance, 

 when before me alights a very interesting bird. It is 

 the indicator, or honey-guide. 2 



Of the size of a grosbeak, its plumage is of a yellowish 

 grey ; some yellow feathers appearing in the tail. 

 Its thick skin serves, according to Kafir report, to 

 protect it from the stings of the bees. When it per- 

 ceives a man, it immediately perches on a branch 

 and commences its song : — " Chir, chir, chir," it cries, 

 which I cannot translate better than " Quick, quick, 

 quick." Yes, go quickly, traveller, behind your little 

 guide, search for the perfumed honey which the 

 industrious bees have collected for you, an inexhaustible 

 dessert offered by bountiful nature ! 



When its appeal is recognised, the honey-guide 



1 The natives call this animal poumpi or bindzi, and the naturalists 

 Lycaon pictus. 



2 Indicator major ; tzezo of the Kafirs. [The author miscalls this 

 bird a cuckoo. Ed.] 



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