268 



GIRAFFE HUNTING, 





weapons of a very lar^c bore. At the best this 

 idea can only be surmise, for since the opening of 

 the Diamond fields, guns of all calibre have been 

 taken into the interior. 



One thing, however, I can be certain of; the 

 carcass stunk so that it was impossible to remain to 

 leeward of it any length of time without feeling those 

 qualms that surely denote an inclination . ^ be sick. 

 This stench, for by no less powerful word could I 

 call it, was, at the first inhalation of it, not unlike 

 very powerful musk, afterwards •:: defied description. 

 Yet the natives seemed to enjoy this foul odour as 

 much as we would fragrant lavender water or " jockey 

 club." My success had supplied my camj) with a 

 sufficiency of fresh meat for temporary wants, and I 

 also hoped with beltong (sun-dried meat) as a pro- 

 vision against want, if game ran short, so I forbade a 

 particle of the veteran's carcass being removed in the 

 direction of our out->[)an. When this verdict was 

 made known, the IMacalacas appeared suddenly 

 attacked with a frenzy, every revolting passion pos- 

 sessed by them, in a moment was exhibited, and 

 quicker than could be imagined a tolerably orderly 

 crowd was transferred into a lot of demons, ready to 

 fight to the death with their nearest and dearest 

 friends for a share of the repulsive carcass that was 

 before them. 



I did not wait to see the onslaught, but as I rode 

 away I could not help regretting that these brutes in 

 human form should belong to the same race as myself. 

 I wonder if our forefathers, at any period, were e\ er 

 such devils as these Macalacas are ; if so, the less 

 said about ancient lineage and ancestors coeval with 

 the flood, the better. 



After I had ridden a good half-mile I could still 

 hear yelling and shouting, with an occasional fierce 

 interjection, that plainly told that the strife was still 

 being continued wiih unabating vigour. Others 



