26 A Breath from the Veldt 



the sportsman. Numerous troops of springbuck may be met with, a steinbuck 

 may here and there be seen, also the silver and the long-eared jackal ; while 

 hundreds of meercats burrow in the ground or live in the holes of the ard- 

 vark. Even to-day the cheetah or hunting-leopard follows the herds of the 

 springbuck like a shadow, whilst in the adjoining mountains the leopard 

 devotes his attention mainly to the scattered troops of vaal and roi rhebuck, 

 baboons, and klipspringers. The birds of this portion of South Africa are, 

 however, more interesting and numerous than the mammals. In small parties 

 the graceful Stanley crane stalks along the bare ground in search of locusts, 

 its exquisite French-grey colouring contrasting strongly with the brown earth ; 

 and at sunset their hoarse trumps may be heard as they wing their flight to 

 some solitary spot far in the heart of the desert, where they can pass the night 

 without fear of disturbance. Moving in a string across the sky they give the 

 last touch to a scene of splendour such as only the Karroo can show ; for 

 surely nowhere in the world are such sunsets to be seen as here. In the 

 stormy winters of our northern islands, in the Orkneys and Shetland, I have 

 watched them with keen delight, and on the north coast of Iceland I have 

 seen the sun's rays extend along the edge of the Arctic ice, and tinging the 

 clouded heavens with gorgeous hues impossible to depict. But grand as these 

 sights were, they sink into utter insignificance by comparison with the aerial 

 splendour of a Karroo sunset after the last of the summer rains have ceased. 

 No words can describe them, no painting present them to the mind. Their 

 mystic beauty is reserved only for those who see them ; and, if only to see 

 them, it is well worth the while of any who can afford it, to exchange in 

 mid-winter the chilling atmosphere of England for a month or more at 

 Beaufort West. 



Here on the Karroo plains may be seen that most interesting creature, the 

 Secretary bird, plodding along in his thoroughly business-like manner. There 

 is a consequential air of snug self-satisfaction about Mr. Secretary that reminds 

 one of a man exceedingly well pleased with himself, perfectly cool and 

 collected, highly particular as to his carriage, and supremely conscious of the 

 sensation he is creating. Most of my readers know the Secretary bird by this 

 time, he has been so often figured and described. He is a large raptorial bird, 

 slate and white as to colour, and quite unique in all his movements as he 

 walks about in search of food ; and the idea has gained ground that in his 

 peregrinations his one aim and object is to befriend his protector, man, by 

 hunting for venomous snakes and destroying them with the greatest bravery. 



