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274 



GIRAFFE HUNTING^ 



making season, or immediately before a fall of rain 

 after a protracted dry term. 



The report of my rifle soon brought William to 

 me, followed by a rag-tag and bobtail of my own 

 people, and strangers, who, of course, were anxious 

 to know what I had shot at ; however, I would not 

 gratify them, as I knew my worthy driver would do 

 nothing but lament for the next four-and-twenty hours 

 the chance I had lost of making money. 



But my taciturnity did not deceive him, for in 

 strong language the meddling brute would continu- 

 ally allude to my bad shooting. At length I went to 

 bed earlier than usual, but not before vowing that if 

 he even whispered the word ostrich again within my 

 hearing, I would lay ihe jambock about his shoulders. 

 This did not even have the desired effect, for I am 

 certain I did hear the confounded lamentations again, 

 for William was just like a white woman, he would 

 have the last word, even if he died for it; black 

 ones do not act so in this respect. This is doubtless 

 the result of different bringing up. It is a wondrous 

 pity that we cannot introduce into this country 

 their method of early education pursued among the 

 weaker sex. 



When my people returned to camp late in the 

 afternoon, they brought with them large quantities 

 of locusts. These they eat au naiurel, beat into a 

 paste, or parched. I had not the strength of nerve 

 to attempt this native bonne bouche in the first state, 

 but in both the others it tasted remarkably well, with 

 a strong vegetable flavour. Those that were made 

 into paste had not a very appetizing appearance, but 

 they were no worse in this respect than many condi- 

 ments that are popular. The parched insects — they 

 lost their legs and wings in the process — reminded 

 me so much of shelled shrimps, that I forthwith 

 hunted up from my stores some curry powder, 

 and when cooked with it they were really ex- 



