50 VAKTOUS SPOOES. 



I found it of inconceivable use in my solitary trips, as I 

 was then independent of Dutch farmers, English squatters, 

 &c. ; a Kaffir kraal always supplying the few things I 

 wanted ; and I was by its aid enabled to see and hear more 

 than by any other means. 



I recommend every person who may be in a strange 

 country at once to set to work and acquire its language ; 

 it turns out generally a most useful amusement. 



By these Kaffirs I was taught the art of spooring ; my 

 lessons were learned over the print of some buck's foot on 

 the bent-down blade of a bit of grass. Spooring requires 

 as much study and practice as any other science, and a pro- 

 fessor is often required to decide some knotty point, such 

 as the number of days since a buffalo passed, or at what 

 hour certain elephants rolled in the mud. It first appeared 

 to me very much a matter of guess, but I afterwards saw 

 the reasons throughout for the Kaffirs' conclusions. 



A few rough outlines, showing the spoors of some of 

 the different South-African animals may be useful to an 

 inexperienced hunter. 



A is the footprint of a Bull Elephant (circular). 



B Cow .Elephant (elliptical). 



C ,, Rhinoceros. 



D ,, Hippopotamus. 



E Buffalo. The animal can also be known by its 



dung being different from that of the antelope. 



F Eland. 



G the footprint of antelopes of different species, such as the Hartebeest, 

 "Rfcitbok, Duiker, and Bush-buck ; practice will alone enable the sportsman 

 to distinguish between each. 



H is the footprint of a Wild Pig or Vleck Yark. 



/ Ostrich. 



K Hyaena. 



L } , Leopard ; the Lion's is similar but much larger. 



