THE CAPE HYENA. 181 



* 



"The smell of the Hyena is so rank and offensive that no animal, other than of its own 

 species, will come near the carcass. Dogs, when they come across the scent of the Hyena, at 

 once show signs of fear ; they will scarcely leave their master, and, with bristling manes and 

 wild looks, examine every inch of ground over which they pass. 



"The spoor of the Hyena is somewhat similar to, but larger than that of the dog ; the nails 

 not being retractile, usually leave an impression upon soft ground, which is not the case with 

 the leopard. The inside toe of each foot is smaller than the outside, and the footmarks can be 

 easily recognized and distinguished from those of dogs. 



"During one warm afternoon, whilst riding over the grassy slopes on the banks of the 

 Umganie River, near Pietermaritzberg, and attended by a cunning old pointer, I saw the 

 dog stand on the brink of an old water-course, and bark fiercely at some object which appeared 

 to be stationed below. I knew that the bark and the expression which accompanied it was 

 the dog-language for 'there's something here,' so I dismounted, and walked towards the dyke. 

 As I approached, the dog, with an aspect of alarm, sprang back, and then rushed forward 

 again. From having had several unpleasant rencontres with poisonous snakes I had become 

 very cautious, and advanced so slowly that I was only enabled to catch a glimpse of a Hyena, 

 which, upon seeing me, immediately retreated into an opening. 



" I descended the steep bank and found a large hole, which appeared to be the entrance to 

 a subterraneous passage, by which the water obtained an exit. I collected a few sticks and 

 some long grass, which I placed over the entrance, and then endeavored to trace the course of 

 this passage, to see if there were another opening. 



"About fifty yards from the first I found a second hole, which evidently led to the first ; 

 neither of these was large enough to admit me, and the dog could not have done much good 

 even had he entered ; but he appeared to have a great objection to approach too near to the den. 



"After some consideration, I determined to cut a quantity of the dry grass, to fill one 

 opening with it, set it on fire, and then to watch near the other hole. This plan failed to 

 unearth the creature, so I reversed the arrangement, but with no better success. 



"At length I fired several bullets into the opening, trusting that a stray shot might strike 

 near the Hyena, and that it would drive him into open ground. The sinuosities of the passage 

 prevented the possibility of a fair shot. 



' ' Whilst thus engaged, the dog suddenly barked and dashed off. Upon reaching the top 

 of the bank, I saw the Hyena scrambling over the hills, closely followed by my dog. I 

 mounted my pony, but the pace was too good for him. I, however, held the Hyena in view for 

 a considerable time as it passed over the successive ridges, but the pointer soon gave up his 

 pursuit. 



"I think that when the ordinary game is driven away by sporting men, or killed by 

 sportsmen, Hyena-hunting with a pack of hounds would be found very good sport, and 

 perhaps we should have Hyena-hunters sneering at fox-hunters as much as some fox-hunters 

 now do at ' thistle- whippers.' 



"The Hyena is frequently caught in a trap of simple construction. Stakes are driven 

 into the ground so as to form an inclosure, and a hanging door of stone, sustained by a cord, 

 closes the aperture when it falls. A bait is placed at the farther end of the trap, and the 

 whole contrivance is like a large mouse-trap. When caught, the Hyena is despatched with 

 spears and clubs, or is shot. 



. "The traveller is frequently disturbed during the night by the daring Hyenas, who will 

 sneak about his wagons in search of leather straps, trektows, and other savory provender ; 

 and if a pair of shoes or some leather breeches happened to be left in an exposed situation 

 during the dark hours, they may be considered lost without redemption, for such a supper 

 would be an unlooked-for luxury by the gaunt brute." 



One of these animals was discovered in a state of sad laceration. The two fore-paws were 

 gone, and the legs themselves had been frightfully torn, evidently by some powerful beast 

 of prey. The natives said that the Hyena had been thus punished by the lion for interfering 

 with his arrangements, and stated, moreover, that the lion frequently corrected the forward 



