338 HOME LIFE ON AN OSTRICH FARM. 



many years since three or four of them might be seen 

 drinking together at night from the dam close to the 

 Dutch house now transformed into the homestead of 

 Swaylands. Even now, in the hills overlooking the 

 Karroo, there are more of them about than the farmer 

 likes ; and sheep, calves, colts and young ostriches are 

 occasionally killed by them. 



One day, riding up to a well in an out-of-the-way 

 part of the farm, we found that a magnificent full-grown 

 leopard had fallen in and drowned himself. There He 

 was, floating on the surface of the water only five feet 

 below where we stood ; his large body extended across 

 the whole diameter of the well, and on the steep but 

 rough and unbricked sides of the latter we could see 

 the traces of his desperate though unavailing struggles 

 to climb out. Unfortunately, the weather being very 

 hot, his beautiful skin was already spoilt ; and we rode 

 home regretting the lovely rug "off our own farm," 

 which we might have displayed to admiring friends at 

 home if we had but found him one day earlier. 



A wounded leopard is a very dangerous customer. 

 One of our neighbours, an old hunter, bears many scars 

 in remembrance of severe injuries received long ago in 

 following up one of these animals which he had shot. 

 The encounter was a terrible one, nearly costing the 

 colonist his life. 



Next to the leopard in ferocity comes the baboon. 

 He is a big, deep-voiced, sturdy fellow ; his short, gruff 

 bark is as dog-like as his head, and there is no doubt 

 that he is identical with the dog-headed ape of ancient 



