106 A SPORTING RED-COAT. 



hang a lantern near a hole of this description at night. 

 In twelve hours, were any accident to happen, one's 

 very bones wonld be picked and ground to powder by the 

 hyaenas, vultures, jackals, &c. There are many of these 

 holes in Africa, although some are not quite so bad as 

 the one I have described ; they are still quite dangerous 

 enough, and serve in a gallop to keep up the excitement, 

 as well as an " in and out" or a " stiff rail/' in an English 

 fox-hunt. 



I witnessed a most amusing scene on the hills, about 

 eight miles from Pietermaritzburg. 



As I was sitting down one day to allow my horse his 

 rest and feed, I noticed a red-coated gentleman riding 

 along in the valley below, and soon saw that he was a 

 non-commissioned officer of the regiment quartered at the 

 time at Natal; he had a gun, and was evidently out 

 taking his pleasure, on leave for a day's sport. He drew 

 all the kloofs and grass that I had tested half an hour 

 before, unconsciously passing over my plainly written 

 horse's footmarks, with a laudable perseverance that 

 deserved success. Presently an eagle or large hawk flew 

 past, and settled some distance on ahead ; red-coat fol- 

 lowed, and, when near the spot, tried to keep his horse 

 steady ; it did not seem to quite understand the matter, 

 and decidedly refused to stand still. A little of the bullying 

 usually practised by unskilled riders then commenced; 

 he spurred the animal, and then chucked it in the 

 mouth with the sharp curb ; strange to say, this pro- 

 ceeding failed in making the stupid equus more quiet. 

 At last the man dismounted, and, carefully drawing the 



