THE LITTLE HYRAX. 145 



ficial observer there appears not the slightest resem- 

 blance between the little hyrax (or daman) with its 

 skin of soft fur, and the huge and naked rhinoceros, 

 yet the classification of animals being founded upon 

 the affinities of internal structure, zoologists have 

 placed it in order close to that ponderous animal, 

 with which it agrees in dentition, the character of 

 the stomach and alimentary canal. Hence Baron 

 Cuvier has termed it a " rhinoceros in miniature." 

 It is an extremely quick and active little animal, 

 skipping along the shelving ledges of the overhang- 

 ing cliffs, and darting with incredible swiftness into 

 the holes and crevices of the rocks, by which it fre- 

 quently eludes the grasp of its pursuers. 



In the afternoon we were honoured with the com- 

 pany of the boor's vrouw and her sister, to witness the 

 method of preserving birds : they were both sitting 

 in the tent, paying great attention to the process, 

 until they ascertained the composition which I ap- 

 plied to the skins, and which had a pungent odour, 

 was gift or poison ; when they immediately sprang 

 from their seats, and covering their mouths with 

 their aprons, hurried from the tent. The dread of 

 gift is universal throughout the country, originating, 

 no doubt, in the horrid effects produced by the poi- 

 soned arrows of the Bushmen, with which most of 

 the farmers in these districts are familiar. Having 

 preserved the skins of the birds I had shot in the 

 morning, and packed them carefully, the oxen were 



VOL. I. l 



