A VICIOUS PIGLING. 129 



midable pair of semicircular tusks in the upper jaw, while 

 the lower jaw was furnished with those sharp, straight, 

 short tusks that soon rip up a dog, as they did most 

 effectually on the present occasion a large cur which 

 ventured to pin the pig himself. When we were close to 

 the herd, the boar slackened his speed, and had a wicked 

 expression about the eye that indicated a wish for mis- 

 chief. Little time was given to him for consideration, as 

 a well-directed bullet laid him low. A young pig which 

 I succeeded in catching was a regular little varmint ; he 

 squeaked and struggled furiously, and tried to bite every 

 hand that was placed near him. He was not much bigger 

 than a sucking-pig. So, after tying his legs together, I 

 slipped him into a haversack, and delivered him in safety 

 to one of my Kaffirs, who placed him in a waggon. On 

 the following day, he bit a Hottentot's finger, and was in 

 consequence killed by the man. I did not know how or 

 where the animal was for two days, as the murder was con- 

 cealed from me. I regretted the loss of this savage little 

 creature, as I had intended to send him to England. 



We passed eight days in the Mooi river veldt. The 

 weather was fine, except on the last day, when the rain 

 poured in torrents. I sought shelter under the waggon- 

 tilt, but was forced to lie on a mattress stuffed with 

 eland's meat. One must not grumble in this country at 

 having to submit to even greater disagreeables. 



The air was delightfully pure and bracing on these 

 plains, and I quite regretted that I had not a shooting- 

 box near them, so as to be able to pass, months at a time 

 in their vicinity. 



