THE ROCK OR KLIP DASSIE 



small lumps, and is picked off and used as medicine 

 by the natives. This is nothing but the liquid 

 portion of the excrement which has slowly perco- 

 lated by gravity through the sandstone. This 

 substance is undoubtedly medicinal, for it is both 

 Diuretic and Diaphoretic, that is, it is a kidney stimu- 

 lant, and increases the action of the skin and pro- 

 duces perspiration. However, drugs which produce 

 like effects can be had in a clean, pure form, and at 

 a cheap price of any chemist, 



In some districts the accumulations of this excre- 

 ment are very great, and attempts have been made 

 to float a company in order to work it for its market 

 value as nitrate of potassium. 



Along a ridge of rocks in the midlands of Cape 

 Province, I have seen tons of it. 



The Klip Dassie is kept from unduly multiplying 

 by a host of enemies. The Bushmen and Hottentots 

 of the past hunted them relentlessly. Their mode 

 of attack was to creep upon them unawares when 

 they were basking on the rocks, and hurl kerries or 

 rounded stones at them. Then, hurrying forward, 

 they endeavoured to secure those which had been 

 'crippled before they could reach a rock crevice. 

 Then, again, they would spend hours in digging 

 them out. Time is no object to a savage, and if 

 after a day's labour he succeeded in securing a 

 couple of Dassies he thought himself fortunate. The 

 anticipation of a full meal of flesh, and a pelt to 

 make a cap or loin-covering of, spurred him on. 

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