The Giraffe 503 



that form of sport. In stalking giraffe in fairly bushed or moderately 

 afforested country the sportsman has, with care and caution, a reasonable 

 chance of success ; but it is to be remembered that these animals are perhaps 

 the shyest and most timid of all African game, and that they are incessantly 

 upon the look-out. Moreover, in forest country the eddies and currents 

 of wind are extremely fickle and perplexing. Once a troop of giraffe gets 

 the hunter's wind, or even a suspicion of his approach, they are off like a 

 shot, and the chances are that he will never get near them again that day. 

 Ever since the time when the emigrant Boers and the early English 

 sportsmen began to cross the Orange River between 1830 and 1840, and 

 to hunt systematically in those wonderful virgin hunting grounds, which 

 even now are by no means exhausted, the chase of the giraffe on horseback 

 has been held in the highest estimation. Cornwallis Harris, Gordon- 

 Cumming, Baldwin, F. C. Selous, Sir Frederick Carrington, and many 

 others have time and again described this form of sport in the most 

 enthusiastic terms. And, in truth, it must be admitted that the first sight 

 of these gigantic creatures, their extraordinary appearance, and the head- 

 long run up to the troop when in full flight, are amongst the most excit- 

 ing and enjoyable of all forms of African hunting. After a few of the 

 desperate and often prolonged gallops which are necessary to accomplish 

 the downfall of these tall quadrupeds, it must be admitted that the average 

 English sportsman, who shoots for specimens, pleasure, or a necessary 

 supply of meat, is content to cry enough, and to shoot a giraffe only now 

 and again when absolutely necessary. This view, however, is not one 

 that commends itself to the Dutch and native hunters of South Africa, 

 who slaughter mercilessly whenever opportunity offers. Dutch hunters 

 have, of course, used horses for hunting for some generations past. In more 

 recent years the Griquas and the various Bechuana tribes have become 

 possessed also of horse-flesh, and have long been in the habit of making 

 periodical incursions in pursuit of flesh and skin into all parts of their 



