THE FIRST GIRAFFE HUNT. 569 



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 consequence of the twin-like resemblance 

 of two scarped hills, we regained the wagons after sunset. 



The spell was now broken, and the secret of cameleopard 

 hunting discovered. The next day Richardson and myself 

 killed three ; one a female, slipping upon muddy ground, and 

 falling with great violence, before she had been wounded, a 

 shot in the head dispatched her as she lay. From this time 

 we could reckon confidently upon two out of each troop that 

 we were fortunate enough to find, always approaching as 

 near as possible, in order to insure a good start, galloping 

 into the middle of them, boarding the largest, and riding 

 with him until he fell. The rapidity with which these awk- 

 wardly formed animals can move, is beyond all things 

 surprising, our best horses being unable to close with them 

 under two miles. Their gallop is a succession of jumping 

 strides, the fore and hind leg on the same side moving 

 together instead of diagonally, as in most other quadrupeds, 

 the former being kept close together, and the latter so wide 

 apart, that in riding by the animal's side, the hoof may be 

 seen striking on the outside of the horse, momentarily threat- 

 ening to overthrow him. Their motion, altogether, reminded 

 me rather of the pitching of a ship, or rolling of a rocking- 

 horse, than of any thing living ; and the remarkable gait is 

 rendered still more automaton-like, by the switching, at 

 regular intervals, of the long black tail, which is invariably 

 curled above the back, and by the corresponding action of 

 the neck, swinging as it does, like a pendulum, and literally 

 imparting to the animal the appearance of a huge piece of 

 machinery in motion. Naturally gentle, timid and peaceable, 

 the unfortunate giraffe has no means of protecting itself but 

 with its heels ; but even when hemmed into a corner, it 

 seldom resorted to this mode of defence. I have before 



