THE GUINEA-FOWL A SOURCE OF ANNOYANCE. 107 



splashings he disappeared, and time alone can prove 

 whether he is killed. Vivian was on the track of a 

 lion for several hours to-day, but never caught sight of 

 him ; and Coke had similar ill-luck with a rhinoceros. 

 It is no easy matter to track quietly in these mimosa- 

 woods, though there are many well-defined paths to the 

 river made by animals, and generally adhered to by 

 them ; for the thorny branches that continuously block 

 your way are now so dry that they break off with a 

 snap on being moved ; whilst the long grass, equally dry, 

 requires most careful walking upon. But there are two 

 ways of doing everything, and certainly watching a 

 hunter wend his way noiselessly amongst them, and 

 with his koorbatch gently push the overhanging 

 branches -on one side as if they were on hinges, soon 

 makes one more expert at it ; but there is a difficulty 

 that even he cannot grapple with viz., the guinea-fowL 

 On certain ground they literally abound in thousands, 

 and there is then no escaping from them, for they run 

 or fly at a respectful distance in front of you, making 

 their hideous noise, and frightening away every animal in 

 their neighbourhood. 



Feb. 3. -^-Vivian brought home to-day the finest 

 koodoo head of our collection. The horns measure 29^ 

 inches from base to tip, and 8 inches round the base. 

 They have three spiral twists, and their tips are 41 

 inches apart. It was killed too far from the carnp to be 



