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228 



GIRAFFE HUNTING, 



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quantity of brush that it passed through, was most 

 difficult to follow ; but the guide was equal to his 

 task, and although the perspiration ran down the 

 channel of his back in a perfect stream, he never 

 for a moment slackened his pace till within an hour 

 of midday, when he suddenly halted, and pointed 

 out the giraffes under some mimosa trees. 



The nature of the surface of the ground between 

 me and the game was not quite as desirable for riding 

 as could be wished, for in places the irregular outlines 

 oi dongas diXid 6ry watercourses could be made out, all 

 trending to the original spruit, whose route we had 

 so long followed. As it is absolutely necessary, in 

 galloping down giraffe, to make your horse go his 

 very best pace from the start, and as nothing takes 

 more out of your mount than dropping into and 

 clambering out of such impediments, as mentioned, 

 when riding at speed, I resolved to retrace my steps 

 again and seek the shelter of the partially dry tributary 

 of Mahalapsi vley, which was well sunk in the adjoin- 

 ing cJiampaign. My device answered admirably till 

 we had gained what I imagined must have been quite 

 one hundred yards upon the giraffes' position, when 

 a halt was called, and William and self dismounted 

 to reconnoitre^ leaving the nags in charge of the 

 guide. To the inexpressible surprise of myself and 

 servant, the game was goi:e, and yet from the nature 

 of the country there could scarcely be an indentation 

 in the terrain where animals of such lofty stature could 

 conceal themselves. We looked blank enough at one 

 another for some minutes, I assure the reader, when a 

 sound of patter, patter, patter, caught our ears in the 

 direction from whence we had come. So turning to 

 see, within thirty yards were seven Burchell zebras, 

 and three vilde-beasts, going what might be called 

 up wind if there had been any breeze, as fast as their 

 legs could carry them. In front of this coterie were 

 some hartebeests^ before them some springboks and 



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