94 



THE CABINET OF NATURAL HISTORY, 



on all sides. We had remounted, and now surrounded 

 the poor animal. As its life depended upon its courage 

 and strength, it exercised both in the most energetic man- 

 ner. Now and then it seized a dog and killed him by a 

 single stroke. At another time, a well administered blow 

 of one of its fore-legs sent an assailant off yelping so pi- 

 teously, that lie might be looked upon as hors de combat. 

 A cur had daringly ventured to seize the Bear by the 

 snout and was seen hanging to it, covered with blood, 

 whilst a dozen or more scrambled over its back. Now 

 and then the infuriated animal was seen to cast a revenge- 

 ful glance at some of the party, and we had already de- 

 termined to despatch it, when, to our astonishment, it 

 suddenly shook off all the dogs, and before we could fire, 

 charged upon one of the negroes, who was mounted on a 

 pied horse. The bear seized the steed with teeth and 

 claws, and clung to its breast. The terrified horse snorted 

 and plunged. The rider, an athletic young man, and a 

 capital horseman, kept his seat, although only saddled on 

 a sheep's skin tightly girthed, and requested his master 

 not to fire at the bear. Notwithstanding his coolness and 

 courage, our anxiety for his safety was raised to the high- 

 est pitch, especially when in a moment we saw rider and 

 horse come to the ground together; but we were instantly 

 relieved on witnessing the masterly manner in which 

 Scirio despatched his adversary, by laying open his skull 

 with a single well-directed blow of his axe, when a deep 

 growl announced the deatli of the bear, and the valorous 

 negro sprung to his feet unhurt. 



Day dawned and we renewed our search. Two of the 

 remaining bears were soon discovered, lodged in a tree 

 about a hundred yards from the spot where the last one 

 had been overpowered. On approaching them in a circle, 

 we found that they manifested no desire to come down, 

 and we resolved to try smoking. We surrounded the 

 tree with a pile of brushwood and large branches. The 

 flames ascended and caught hold of the dry bark. At 

 length the tree assumed the appearance of a pillar of flame. 

 The bears mounted to the top branches. When they had 

 reached the uppermost they were seen to totter, and soon 

 after, the branch cracking and snapping across, they came 

 to the ground, bringing with them amass of broken twigs. 

 They were cubs and the dogs soon worried them to death. 



The party returned to the house in triumph. Scipio's 

 horse, being severely wounded, was let loose in the field, 

 lo repair his strength by eating the corn. A cart was 

 afterwards sent for the game. But tjefore we had left the 

 field, the horses, dogs, and bears, together with the fires, 

 had destroyed more corn within a few hours, than the 

 poor bear and her cubs had, during the whole of their 

 visits. — Audubon . 



HIPPOPOTAMUS HUNT. 



As all our attempts to obtain a hippopotamus had hither- 

 to failed, and as we were not likely to meet with another 

 opportunity, this being our last visit to Delagoa Bay, a 

 party of officers volunteered for the chase, and were con- 

 veyed up the Dundas river in the Albatross. The even- 

 ing set in before they reached that'part of the river where 

 the hippopotami were the most abundant. Three parties 

 were however formed, who at midnight commenced their 

 pursuit. The scene was novel and imposing; a body of 

 men, armed at all points with muskets, harpoons, and lan- 

 ces, walking on the shallows of the river, with nothing 

 but the moon to light them, all hallooing and driving be- 

 fore them their huge game, who, blowing, snorting, and 

 bellowing, were floundering through the mud from the nu- 

 merous holes which they had made at the bottom for their 

 retreat, but from which the hunters' lances soon expelled 

 them, until ultimately driven upon dry ground; where a 

 running contest commenced, the beast sometimes being 

 pursued and at others pursuing. 



This lasted for some time; but still there were no signs 

 of man's boasted pre-eminence: not an animal had the party 

 secured, dead or alive. As low water was considered the 

 best time for the pursuit of their game, when the flood set 

 in the party amused themselves until the next ebb by 

 scouring the woods for any birds or beasts that they could 

 find. The deer, which were very numerous, consisted 

 principally of three species, the fallow, spring, and harte- 

 bock; but they, as well as the buffaloes and monkeys, were 

 so shy that none of the party could get near enough to fire 

 with any hope of success. 



During the pursuit, the party were obliged lo be careful 

 where they trod, as the forest abounded in pits dug by the 

 natives to entrap the hippopotami and elephants. These 

 were about twelve feet deep, formed like a wedge, and so 

 neatly covered with reeds that even some of the hunters, 

 notwithstanding their precautions, were caught, but fortu- 

 nately not in any armed with spears at the bottom. At 

 low water the following morning one party formed a line 

 across one of the shallows, were the depth was not above 

 two feet, while the boats went up the river and actually 

 drove the animals down the stream, another party having 

 lined the banks to prevent their taking to the woods and 

 reeds. These, whenever the monstrous but timid animals 

 attempted to pass them, set up a shout, which in most 

 instances proved sufficient to turn them back into the 

 water; when, having collected a vast number on one shal- 

 low bank of sand, the whole of the hunters commenced 

 from all sides a regular cannonade upon the astonished 

 brutes. Unwieldy as thoy appeared still much activity was 



