92 A Breath from the Veldt 



many hoopoes and two species of hornbills, called by the Dutchmen " bosjes 

 craw " (bush crow). 



wth May. — Killed three bush khoorhan and five pheasanter (?). The 

 brown red-necked francolin [Pternister Swainsoni), or pheasant, as the Dutch 

 call it, is very common here, — indeed the commonest species from here north- 

 ward to Gong on the borders of Matabeleland, though eastward of that place 

 it was remarkably scarce. It loves the water-side, where it is nearly always 

 found in small coveys of from four to eight. The time to find it is the early 

 morning ; for the birds are then tamely engaged in scratching and feeding on 

 all the bare spots they can find, such as the sites of old outspans and cattle 

 kraals. On the first alarm they start up and run like cock pheasants for the 

 nearest bush, after which they fly a short distance before finally settling to 

 collect their forces. If then suddenly approached with a pointer they become 

 confused and squat well, falling an easy prey to the sportsman in pursuit of 

 small game. If, however, time be given them to collect together again, they 

 commonly take to running, and disappear in the thick bush. In the early 

 morning this francolin keeps up such a continuous screech that its whereabouts 

 is not difficult to " locate," as the Yankee says ; and as the neighbourhood of 

 water is as attractive to campers-out as to them, they are the francolins that 

 most frequently grace the hunter's pot where no large game is to be found. 

 The legs of the old males are armed with most formidable spurs, the cause of 

 death no doubt to many of this species during the spring battles in which all 

 the partridges, grouse, and francolins engage. 



i2th May. — We now approached the chain of mountains behind which 

 Pietersberg lies, and which are really a continuation of the Zoutpansberg 

 range. 



It is interesting to listen to the various sounds that herald the approaching 

 day in South Africa, as you lie awake in your comfortable bed of karosses on 

 the top of the waggon. The proverbial chanticleer has the first cut-in from 

 the coop beneath the Dutchman's waggon ; but it is but a feeble attempt at 

 cheerfulness on his part. He has apparently awoke too soon, for it is still 

 pitch dark and there seems to be nothing to warrant this obtrusion of his 

 opinion that it is time to get up. His instinct, however, is unfailing : his calls 

 become both louder and more frequent, and now the first faint rays of colour 

 are seen stealing along the fringe of the eastern sky. Teenie yawns aloud 

 from beneath the waggon, and presently we hear him cry : " Get up, Gentle- 

 man, and go and look for the oxen. Pompoon ! Pompoon ! Pompoon ! get up 



