Sporting Trips of a Subaltern 



On the last day of May we emerged on a great 

 open plain. Since crossing the Toyo plains, and 

 seeing but little game thereon, we had had, and 

 were not likely to forget it, torrential rains ; these 

 had caused the young grass to shot up, with the 

 result that the game had streamed out of the 

 bush in myriads to graze. This plain was one 

 moving mass of aoul, reminding one of the ac- 

 counts of the sights that met the eyes of the 

 early South African hunters. I had already some 

 good aoul heads, though doubtless, with this 

 bountiful choice, I could have improved on them. 

 However, I spent a very happy morning by leaving 

 my pony on the edge of the plain and stalking 

 right into the middle of the herds, where I lay 

 basking in the sunshine watching them. Of course 

 I alarmed a few when I was moving, but when in 

 such numbers I always found they, to a great 

 measure, lost their timidity. Thus two or three 

 would gallop off, and meeting a few more, they 

 would all trot to the next lot, who in turn would 

 perhaps only look up and stand motionless for a 

 bit, when all would recommence grazing uncon- 

 cernedly. When lying still, it was amusing to 

 watch them reconnoitring one. They would graze 

 close up, then the sharp eyes of a doe would 

 detect something unusual in the grass ; she would 

 " freeze" and watch. Next, the "boss" buck of 

 that party, with perhaps one or two rival bucks, 



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