CHAPTER XII. 



A Kaffir hunt A battue Fire-making A lunch alfresco Troublesome 

 invaders Flight of locusts Crows outwitted Alligator shot A lion- 

 chase Strength of the lion A slight mistake Snuff-manufacturing 

 A proposal of marriage Kaffir kindliness. 



ONE morning, Inkau told me that some large buck were 

 in plenty not far from his kraal, and he thought that, with 

 my help, he and his people might be able to have some 

 very good sport. Being most anxious to witness a grand 

 battue amongst the Kaffirs, I urged him to get all the 

 men together who felt disposed for the expedition; and 

 about a hundred assembled, all armed with either spears 

 or knob-kerries. 



I determined to be an observer of the proceedings 

 rather than an actor, and not to shoot at anything unless 

 I saw it must otherwise escape, and, by thus leaving the 

 Kaffirs entirely alone, to watch their particular devices. 



The country was open, and of that park-like description 

 so common in Africa ; the covers being about ten acres in 

 extent. These were, at a given signal, surrounded by 

 men, whose assagies or kerries were held in readiness 

 for throwing. Two or three Kaffirs, who were told off 

 as beaters, would then go inside and beat the bushes 

 and grass. 



Some of these woods had been drawn blanks, when, on 

 entering a thick patch of reeds and bush, a " Tally " was 



