THE POUW. 171 



mentioned, very good sport could be had with wild fowl of 

 different kinds, partridges, guinea-fowl, pheasants, and 

 bustard. The large description of the latter, called by the 

 colonists the pouw, is a magnificent bird, and is considered 

 a great delicacy for the table. They have been shot weigh- 

 ing about twenty or thirty pounds. They walk about 

 the newly-burnt grass picking up the fried worms and 

 other animals brought to light by the fire. These birds 

 being very difficult to approach, I generally rode round 

 and round them, commencing my circle from a long 

 distance, and gradually narrowing it, taking care, how- 

 ever, not to look at the birds. They are so keen-sighted, 

 that, were you to look fixedly at them, even when distant, 

 they would immediately fly away ; whereas, if they con- 

 sider that you do not see them, they will crouch down 

 their heads and remain perfectly still, letting you circle up 

 to them. Having always one barrel loaded with ball and 

 the other with buck-shot for this work, I was ready to 

 take a long shot with the bullet, if there was any appear- 

 ance of the birds taking an early flight. If, however, no 

 signs of impatience were shown, and the pouw tried the 

 hiding dodge, the plan was to get within eighty or one 

 hundred yards, dismount, and run in towards the birds : 

 they could not rise very quickly, and a dose of buck-shot, 

 as they opened their wings, was generally effective in 

 stopping them. 



Upon wounding a young pouw one day, as I was riding 

 home, I was opposed by a rival sporting gentleman, in the 

 shape of an eagle. The pouw rose nearly under my horse's 

 feet, but, as I was cantering, he got some distance off 



