Qualities of Native Dogs 121 



The agouti, which is the size of a rabbit, lives on 

 grassy expanses ; at the time of the first fires dogs 

 are used to dislodge it, and it is then riddled with 

 arrows. Agoutis being very plentiful, this sport is 

 much liked by the natives, who, moreover, are very 

 fond (well they may be) of the flesh of the 

 tchenzi, as the animal is called. The native dog is 

 small, with straight ears and pointed muzzle of the 

 Kabyle type : it follows the agouti with pleasure. 

 Hunting the wart-hog consists, on the contrary, in 

 forcing it to pursue and to hang on to the animal's 

 ears. Dogs which are capable of this are very 

 rare. Very rare, also, are those which know how to 

 track antelopes. It was for dogs coming under 

 these last two categories that I had offered a large 

 sum. Several were brought to me, which I did not 

 buy, of course, until after a trial ; and, at the time 

 at which this chapter opens, I was possessed of a 

 pack of four dogs which w T ere, without a doubt, the 

 best in the district. 



They were far from realising the qualities of those 

 which one finds in Austral Africa ; but I counted upon 

 making them of service by force of patience. They 

 were excellent for tracking an antelope, especially 

 if the animal was wounded ; but we did not need 

 them for that. On the other hand, they made a 

 noise, snifted, and announced our approach. My 

 men and I could follow the track as quickly as they 

 and without all these inconveniences. What I 

 wanted to teach them was to beat the bush without 

 noise and to warn us of the presence of dangerous 



