190 



ADVENTURES IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



cular form, of bushes packed together so as to form a 

 hedge about three feet high. On the top of the hedge 

 I placed heavy dead old branches of trees, so as to form 

 a fine clear rest for our rifles ; these clean old branches 

 were all lashed firmly together with strips of thorn bark. 

 All being completed, I took the Bakalahari and our 

 steeds to a shady tree, about a quarter of a mile to lee- 

 ward of the fountain, where we formed a kraal and ofF- 

 saddled. This day was particularly adapted to bring 

 game to the water, the sun being extremely powerful, 

 and a hot dry wind prevailing all the afternoon. I told 

 Carey that we were certain of having a good night's 

 sport, and I was right, for we undoubtedly had about 

 the finest night's sport and the most wonderful that was 

 ever enjoyed by man. 



A little before the sun went down, leaving our kraal, 

 we held to the fountain, having with us our heavy-met- 

 aled rifles, karosses, and two Baljalahari. We also had 

 two small guns, my double-barreled Westley Richards, 

 and Carey's single-barreled gun. As we approached 

 the fountain, a stately bull giraffe stood before us ; the 

 heat of the day had brought him thither, but he feared 

 to go in and drink ; on observing us, he walked slowly 

 away. Twojackals were next detected. Guinea-fowl, 

 partridges, two or three sorts of pigeon and turtle-dove, 

 and small birds in countless thousands, were pouring 

 in to drink from every airt, as we walked up to our 

 hiding-place and lay down. In a few minutes the sun 

 was under ; but the moon was strong and high (it being 

 within three nights of the full), and the sky was clear, 

 with scarcely a cloud. Very soon a step was heard ap- 

 proaching from the east : it was a presuming black rhi- 

 noceros. He came up within ten yards of the hiding- 

 hole, and, observing us with his sharp prying eye, at 



