CHAPTER XVII. 



African moonlight Poor Ch.irley Want of patience Blue light in the 

 Bush Buck killed by a leopard Strange followers Porcupine hunt 

 Practical joke Foolhardy conduct A mistake Kaffir prophet A 

 dark patriarch Conjugal authority Strong-headed individual Harbour 

 sharks Fish spearing Intoxicating root A suggested experiment 

 Variety of fish. 



THE moonlight nights in South Africa are particularly fine 

 and brilliant ; I have frequently read manuscript writing 

 without difficulty, even when the moon has not been quite 

 at the full. Things viewed by its light seem always to 

 be more peaceable and mysterious than by the sunlight. 

 Few, for example, fully appreciate the beauties of the 

 Madeleine in Paris, who have not quietly watdied its 

 changing effect during the passage of the lesser light 

 in her bo-peep proceedings with the clouds. 



In the bush and plains the animals choose the cool 

 night for feeding, travelling, and drinking. Many an 

 uncouth -looking creature, whose ungainly form is rarely 

 shown to the sun, boldly walks the night without the 

 slightest compunctions for the feelings of the modest 

 moon. Holes, ravines, and hollow trees then give up 

 their inhabitants; and many an animal, who during the 

 day dares not even breathe the atmosphere that man has 

 passed through, gains courage and boldness in the moon's 

 light, and cunningly plots and ably executes an attack on 

 cattle, dogs, or fowls, under the very roof of its day- 

 dreaded adversarv. A house situated about four miles 



