166 SPORT AND TRAVEL PAPERS 



swarms, one apparently calling the other, and no easy task it is 

 to kill them when caught their bodies are so hard and tough 

 and crack between the nails like some other well-known insect. 

 It is comical to see them arrive ; all in a terrible hurry ; all 

 apparently afraid of being too late for the feast. They are 

 disgusting-looking animals at any time; but particularly so 

 when gorged with blood, their enormously distended abdomen 

 then resembling a tightly stretched bladder, out of proportion 

 altogether to their tiny head and thorax. When quite full the 

 tick lets go his hold on man or beast, and remains wherever he 

 may fall in a helpless state of engorgement, with, it is hoped, 

 all the attendant horrors of indigestion and nightmare, until 

 empty and shrunk to natural size. Then, once more full of life, 

 and keenly on the look out for another meal, he lies in wait on 

 the ground, or hangs from the edge of leaf or grass, until his 

 hook-like hind feet come in contact with a passing animal. The 

 chances of getting a good blow-out are therefore exceedingly 

 rare ; no wonder he makes use of the opportunity when it is 

 offered. Our slumbers were not altogether peaceful one heard 

 a good deal of scratching, tossing about, and strong language 

 and at early dawn all hands were busy tick-hunting, with every 

 success and great slaughter. But the most ludicrously woe- 

 begone creatures were the dogs in the morning ; from their lips, 

 noses, and most parts of the body hung well-fed ticks especially 

 were the eyelids adorned with them. The poor animals looked, 

 and were no doubt, most miserable, and gratefully acknowledged 

 our efforts to tear off some of their uninvited guests. When a 

 tick is full to bursting he drops off, but if before that shape has 

 been reached a small hole is made in his expanding body, large 

 enough to allow the blood as it is absorbed slowly to escape, he 

 will go on sucking and sucking for ever, delighted and surprised, 

 no doubt, at his increased capacity for enjoyment. This was 

 told me as an absolute fact; but, unfortunately, my time in 

 South Africa was too short to finally settle this interesting 

 question. 



We tried our luck with the Kowie buffaloes again and again; 

 but, in spite of very hard work, always unsuccessfully. We 

 approached quite close to them more than once, but the dogs 

 never succeeded in bringing one to bay. We tried hiding near 

 water-holes, while others searched the surrounding bush, in the 



