250 KLOOF AND KARROO. 



very important one it is likely to be to the Cape 

 farmer ; although, so far I believe Mr. Evans is alone 

 in the use of " jackal wire." The camp is partly flat 

 kairroo, partly rising and broken ground (kopje), 

 whereon wilde pruim, spekboom, and other succulent 

 bushes and shrubs flourish in a scant luxuriance. 

 Within this huge enclosure or enclosures — for there 

 are smaller ones carved out of the main camp — 

 some 500 ostriches are gathered. 



Here the great birds wander practically free and 

 unfettered — some full grown, some smaller, others 

 quite young — in solemn stateliness ; ludicrous 

 creatures they are with their quaint bald bristly 

 heads. We enter the largest enclosure to assist in 

 driving some of the birds into a small pen or fold 

 between the great and little camps. A ferocious old 

 cock comes rushing up with direful eye and 

 malevolent intent, but is easily kept at bay by 

 thrusting the long-forked sticks with which we are 

 armed against his neck ; this is a simple yet 

 infallible guard, without which no ostrich camp 

 should be entered if it contains dangerous birds ; 

 a thorn bush held in front of the bird's neck will 

 answer the purpose equally well. A fierce old cock 

 bird is indeed no joke, and can snap the limbs of the 

 strongest man with a kick impelled by the enormous 

 muscular power of his thigh. The old cock 

 presently turns away in a huff, and stalks off to 

 another part of the camp. Rampageous and un- 

 reasonable creatures as ostriches may appear to the 

 uninitiated, they are in reality very easily managed. 

 When they have to be driven considerable distances 

 from one place to another, they are sometimes guided 

 by a kind of harness. A band of leather is passed 



