ii6 ANIMAL LIFE IN AFRICA 



bull has a special liking for garden produce, and often 

 will stand for hours, patiently watching the movements 

 of the gardener from a little distance. The moment 

 that individual temporarily turns his back, " Alfonso " 

 dashes in, cleverly and quickly unlatches the gate with 

 his horns, and, bearing down upon the nearest vegetable 

 bed, pulls up and swallows all he can before he sees 

 himself detected. On the approach of the avenger he 

 makes off, bearing with him such spoils as he can seize, 

 and endeavouring to swallow them as he retreats. The 

 moment the last scrap has disappeared, he halts and 

 calmly faces his pursuer with the most innocent 

 expression imaginable. 



From long practice " Alfonso " has learned the secret 

 of opening most kinds of gates, and by patiently working 

 away with his horns generally succeeds in his nefarious 

 attempts. Should all his efforts fail, he gauges the 

 height of the obstacle, and, if it does not exceed five feet 

 or so, he takes a pace or two backwards, and clears the 

 whole thing from a stand, landing with amazing lightness 

 for an animal of his height and bulk. For his own 

 attendant, and for people he knows, he has a wholesome 

 respect, but is not averse from " trying it on " with 

 strangers, especially should they happen to be native 

 women or children carrying grain. Such persons he 

 approaches from behind at a sharp trot, upon which 

 they generally drop their burdens and flee in terror, 

 while the malefactor remains to enjoy his ill-gotten spoils. 

 Washing, hung out to dry, has been found a favourite 

 article of diet. Newspapers are a delicacy, while tobacco, 

 and old cigar and cigarette ends, he counts as luxuries. 

 On one occasion I even discovered him chewing a raw- 

 hide rope ; so that there is little that comes amiss, and 

 it is no wonder that he remains fat whatever the condition 

 of the veld. 



