254 THE CAFFERBOOM. 



herds. The hippopotamus is found in all the rivers, 

 and its flesh is much esteemed by the natives, to whom 

 it often affords a substantial repast. The rhinoceros 

 also inhabits the thick bushy coverts ; and here the 

 hyaena also makes its lair, — an animal, as will appear 

 from what has been already related, extremely fero- 

 cious and destructive. Great varieties of game, such 

 as antelopes, hares, pheasants, and partridges, abound 

 in the thinly inhabited parts of the country, but in 

 the more populous regions are seldom met with. 

 Baboons and monkeys are seen by hundreds at a 

 time, and serpents, with many other noxious reptiles, 

 are very numerous. The birds resemble for the 

 most part those found in the neighbourhood of the 

 colony. A species of hawk makes its appearance 

 about September, when the Amaponda tribes say it 

 is time for them to begin clearing the ground, and 

 they accordingly commence planting their maize, 

 while others are guided in these matters by the blos- 

 soming of a tree, called by the Dutch the Caffer- 

 boom. The animals kept for the use of man are, 

 horned cattle, goats and a few horses, which latter 

 belong exclusively to the Chiefs. Some of the ma- 

 rauding tribes possess sheep, which have been taken 

 in former years from the Dutch boors, or Ghonaquas, 

 in the Bechuana country. The Amapondas have 

 a small breed of poultry about the size of the Eng- 

 lish partridge, reared exclusively for the sake of the 

 feathers, which they use to ornament their heads ; 



