THE CROWS OUTWITTED. 221 



the old Kaffir rushed out at the birds with his knob- 

 kerries, they would fly away quickly, giving an ironical 

 sort of " caw," and settling high up in the tree, look down 

 upon him and continue their jokes. I witnessed this 

 proceeding on first arriving at the kraal, and laughed 

 immoderately at the old women's expressions, as they 

 shook their fists with rage at the birds, and told me the 

 crows were so cunning, that they would not walk into a 

 trap, and that they always served the man in the same 

 manner in which I had seen them behave. I walked 

 quietly down to the tree on which the birds were perched, 

 they little suspecting the new dodge that was going to be 

 practised on them : they gave some very jocular caws as I 

 came near them, and eyed me with a sort of supercilious 

 bend of the head. The excitement of all the Kaffirs was 

 intense, as they looked on from a distance to witness the 

 effect of my attack. 



I walked round the tree until both birds were nearly in 

 a line, they meanwhile watching all my proceedings most 

 carefully, and I have no doubt flattering themselves that 

 they were not going to be humbugged by me. Suddenly 

 a charge of shot rattled through the branches, and down 

 the crows both dropped, fluttering, to the ground. 



A yell of delight from the expecting Kaffirs was the 

 result of the success, as they rushed down towards their 

 formerly triumphant, but now humbled enemies. Half 

 a dozen hands eagerly seized on each bird, and in a few 

 seconds their bodies were torn into the smallest pieces and 

 scattered to the winds, whilst a shower of thanks and 

 great praise fell to my share. 



