SOUTHERN AFRICA. 129 



CHAPTER XIX. 



FROM THE MARIQUA RIVER TO TOLAAN^ THE RESIDENCE 

 OF THE HEIR APPARENT. 



At daybreak the following* morning", a larg-e party of hungry 

 savag'es^ with four of the Hottentots on horseback, accom- 

 panied us across the river in search of elands, which were 

 reported to be numerous in the neig'hbourhood. We formed 

 a long' line, and having* passed over a great extent of 

 country, divided into two parties j Richardson keeping- to 

 the rig-ht, and myself to the left. Beg'inning" to despair of 

 success, I had shot a hartebeest for the savag*es, when nn 

 object which had repeatedly attracted my eye, but which 

 I had as often persuaded myself was nothing* more than 

 the branchless stump of some withered tree, suddenly shifted 

 its position, and the next moment I distinctly perceived 

 that sing'ular form of which the apparition had oftentimes 

 visited my slumbers — but upon whose reality I now g*azed 

 for the first time. It passed rapidly among* the trees, above 

 the topmost branches of many of which its graceful head 

 nodded like some lofty pine — it was the stately, the long*- 

 sought giraffe. Putting* spurs to my horse, and directing 

 the Hottentots to follow, I presently found myself half 

 choked with excitement, rattling at the heels of the tallest 

 of all the Mammiferes, whom thus to meet, free on his 

 native plains, has fallen to the lot of few of the votaries 

 of the chase. Sailing before me with incredible velocity, 

 his long swan-like neck keeping time to the eccentric motion 

 of his stilt-like legs— his ample black tail curled above 



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