IN THE FOREST 



fleeing at top speed, pursued by the " boys." I follow 

 it for part of the day without again catching a glimpse. 

 This accident, which has happened to me many times, 

 is due to a hit somewhat too high. The ball misses 

 the shoulder-blade, and, without touching the verte- 

 bral column, breaks the head of a rib, causing 

 momentary paralysis in the animal. In a short time 

 the beast revives after the shock, and, in my opinion, 

 recovers from the wound. 



I should have returned grumbling had I not shot, 

 in place of game, a palm-rat. This rodent, which is 

 very common here, is of the size of a hare, but has 

 shorter legs, and is clothed with coarse dark grey hair. 

 It feeds on the seeds of grasses and also on the hearts 

 of cabbage-palms, whence the origin of its name. 

 It inflicts much harm on the crops of the Kafirs. The 

 latter, not only by vengeance but likewise by eating, 

 wage against it a relentless war. If they are not 

 sufficiently numerous, they set in the runs snares in 

 the form of a funnel into which the rats creep. Those 

 which escape from the snares are killed by the dogs, 

 stunned by blows of the clubs, speared with assegais, 

 or pierced by arrows. It is a veritable national sport, 

 this hunting of the tchendzi, and I know Kafirs who 

 will deprive themselves of everything rather than 

 forego the sport. 



If I hunt quadrupeds much, I leave them only in 

 pursuit of birds, of which I obtain a number of speci- 

 mens. Among them, I will mention the hornbill, a 



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