200 On ike Mammalia of the 



curing of the skins and flesh for sale or consumption their 

 aim, adopt a more wholesale method of capturing the smaller 

 bucks of all kinds, and one that requires no expenditure 

 of time. The River Bush is the most frequented resort of 

 these animals during dry seasons, and their resort in any fa- 

 vourable numbers is easily ascertained by the quantity of 

 spoor. Certain narrower tracts of it are bushed in after the 

 manner of a kraal-fence, right across from the river bank to 

 the outside edge of the bush, say for 80 yards, except a single 

 narrow opening through which the bucks must pass when 

 traversing the length of the bush to or fro. At this spot a 

 trap is set, a hole is first dug, and a long spring of bush tree 

 fixed in the ground close by, to the upper end of which is 

 tied a riem or rope, having a running noose at the lower end, 

 which is fixed by a small easily-loosened stick, round the mar- 

 gin of the hole, the spring being then bent down to its ut- 

 most. The opening of the hole is covered by other smaller 

 sticks, over which are placed loose grass and rubbish to hide 

 its artificial appearance. The buck in passing through puts 

 his foot on the covering, which the pressure bruises down, 

 the noose is liberated, the leg caught, and up springs the 

 bender, and so holds the animal in spite of all his endeavours 

 to escape till the poacher arrives. This plan is recommended 

 from its not injuring the skin of the animal by any wound, 

 so that its market value is not lessened. The Caffres in this 

 country sometimes use a nearly similar method, bushing across 

 a space of the river bush, leaving a single opening where 

 a deep hole is dug, in the bottom of which is fixed an upright 

 sharp-pointed stake, and the opening of the hole is covered 

 lightly with sticks and grass. The buck, instead of being 

 ginned, is here staked. The skins of all these smaller bucks 

 are valuable, being, when prepared w r ith the panion, made 

 into carosses, bed-covers, carpets, &c, for use in the colony, 

 and further form very fine leather stuff. Their usual selling 

 price in the Graham's Town market is from one shilling to 

 one shilling and sixpence. 



In all these smaller bucks the stomach has the four cavities 

 of the ruminant. The paunch contains a large quantity of 

 semifluid half-digested vegetable matter, the reticulated ca- 



