100

DEATH OF THE

BEAST-THE

CARACAL.

mer" stretched at full length, in the middle of a bush. Though the poor creature had several deep wounds about his throat and chest, he at once recognized me, and, wagging his tail, looked wistfully in my face. The sight sickened me, as I carried him into the house, where, in time, however, he recovered.

The very next day, "Summer" was revenged in a very unexpected manner. Some of the servants had gone into the bed of the river to chase away a jackal, when they suddenly encountered a leopard in the act of springing at our goats, which were grazing, unconscious of danger, on the river's bank. On finding himself discovered, he immediately took refuge in a tree, where he was at once attacked by the men. It was, however, not until he had received upwards of sixteen wounds-some of which were inflicted by poisoned arrows-that life became extinct. I arrived at the scene of conflict only to see him die.

During the whole affair, the men had stationed themselves at the foot of the tree to the branches of which the leopard was pertinaciously clinging-and, having expended all their ammunition, one of them proposed-and the suggestion was taken into serious consideration-that they should pull him down by the tail!

The poorer of the Damaras, when hard pressed for food, eat the flesh of the leopard, the hyæna, and many other beasts of

prey.

The caracal (felis caracal), or the wild cat, as it is generally called in these parts, was not uncommon in the neighborhood of Schmelen's Hope. The fur of this animal is warm and handsome, and is much esteemed by the natives, who convert the skins into carosses, etc.

According to Professor Thunberg, who gives it on the authority of the Dutch boers, the skin of the caracal is also "very efficacious as a discutient when applied to parts affected with cold or rheumatism."

CHAPTER XII.

WILD FOWL ABUNDANT-THE GREAT BUSTARD-THE TERMITES-WILD BEES-MUSHROOMS-THE CHIEF ZWARTBOOI-RETURN OF MR. GALTONHE MAKES A TREATY WITH JONKER-HE VISITS REHOBOTH-MISDOINGS OF JOHN WAGGONER AND GABRIEL-CHANGE OF SERVANTS-SWARM OF CATERPILLARS-A RECONNOITERING EXPEDITION-THUNDER-STORM-THE

OMATAKO MOUNTAINS-ZEBRA FLESH A GOD-SEND-TROPICAL PHENOMENON -THE DAMARAS NOT REMARKABLE FOR VERACITY-ENCAMP IN AN ANT-HILL-RETURN TO SCHMELEN'S HOPE-PREPARATIONS FOR VISITING OMANBONDE.

We never fared better than at Schmelen's Hope. Besides the larger game mentioned, our table was plentifully supplied with geese, ducks, guinea-fowls, francolins, grouse, and so forth. The large bustard (otis kori, Burch), the South African paauw, was, moreover, very abundant, but so shy, that to kill it, even with the rifle, was considered a dexterous exploit. One that I shot, weighed no less than twenty-eight pounds. I have since repeatedly killed African bustards of this species; but I never saw a second bird that attained more than two-thirds of the weight just specified; usually, they do not exceed fourteen or fifteen pounds. The flesh is very tender and palatable; indeed, to my notion, it is the best flavored of all the game birds found throughout this portion of South Africa.

It being now the breeding season, the numerous flocks of guinea-fowls in the neighborhood afforded us a constant supply of fresh eggs, which, as has been said elsewhere, are excellent.

Schmelen's Hope swarmed with termites, or white ants'. My

1 For a detailed account of this curious and interesting insect, see Mr. Westwood (British Cyclopædia); Mr. Savage (Annals of Natural History, vol. 5, p. 92), etc.

102 WILD

BEES-THE

CHIEF

ZWARTBOOI.

ideas of ant-hills were here, for the first time, realized; for some of the abodes of this interesting, though destructive insect, measured as much as one hundred feet in circumference at the base, and rose to about twenty in height! Termites are seldom seen in the daytime; but it is not an unusual thing, after having passed a night on the ground, to find skins, rugs, etc., perforated by them in a hundred different places.

In constructing their nests, the termites do not add to them. externally, as with the species of ant common to England, but enlarge them from within by thrusting out, so to say, the wall. Their labors are commonly carried on in the dark; and, at early morn, each night's addition to the building may be discovered by its moisture. "They unite," says the " English Cyclopædia," "in societies composed each of an immense number of individuals, living in the ground and in trees, and often attacking the wood-work of houses, in which they form innumerable galleries, all of which lead to a central point. In forming these galleries, they avoid piercing the surface of the wood-work, and hence it appears sound, when the slightest touch is sometimes sufficient to cause it to fall to pieces." This is a clear and, I have no doubt, a correct account. I myself have often been astonished to find huge trees, apparently sound, crumble to pieces on being touched by the hand.

Wild bees very frequently make their nests in the gigantic dwellings of the termites. In some years, bees are very numerous. The disposition of these insects would appear to be unusually quiet and forbearing. Indeed, I never knew a man to be stung by them when robbing their nests. Commonly, these are smoked in the first instance; but just as often (as I myself have many times witnessed) they are fearlessly approached, and plundered by the naked savage without this precaution.

It is another interesting fact in connection with the dwellings. of the termites, that during the rainy season, mushrooms grow in great abundance on their sides. In size and flavor, these mushrooms are far superior to any found in Europe. Care, however, must be taken in selecting them; for other fungi of a poisonous nature are almost identical in appearance. Two of the children of one of our Damaras were very nearly killed by eating some of these instead of mushrooms.

On the 6th of February, I received a visit from the great Namaqua chieftain, named William Zwartbooi, and found him a a very agreeable old personage. He had met Mr. Galton not far

THE CHIEF

ZWARTBOOI.

103

from Eikhams, who had sent him to Schmelen's Hope to wait his return.

At one time, this chief had robbed and massacred the Damaras in precisely a similar way as Jonker Afrikaner; but, thanks to the exertions of the missionaries, he had been gradually weaned from his evil practices, and was now living on excellent terms with his neighbors.

Jonker and Zwartbooi associated occasionally, but they were by no means well-disposed towards each other. On one occasion, when the latter had expressed displeasure at his friend's inhuman proceedings against the Damaras, Jonker told him, that if he (Zwartbooi) meddled with his affairs, he would pay him such a visit as would put a stop to his devotions and make him cry for quarter.

Within Zwartbooi's territory was a mountain, called Tans, where horses might pasture throughout the year without being exposed to the "paarde ziekte," the cruel distemper to which these animals are subject. Almost all the northern Namaquas, Jonker amongst the rest, are in the habit of sending their horses here during the sickly season.

On one occasion, when Jonker was about to make a "raid" on the Damaras, he sent an express to Zwartbooi for his horses; but this chief, having been apprised of the cause for which the steeds were wanted, refused under some pretext to give them up; and, whilst parleying, the favorable opportunity was lost. It seems Jonker never forgave Zwartbooi this act of treachery, as he called it, and determined, let the risk be whatever it might, never again to put himself in another man's

power.

Two days after Zwartbooi's arrival at Schmelen's Hope, Mr. Galton returned. He had been successful beyond his most sanguine expectations, for Jonker had not alone formally apologized to Mr. Kolbé for his brutal behavior at Schmelen's Hope, but had expressed regret at his past conduct, and had faithfully promised for the future to live in peace and amity with the Damaras. Several important regulations had, moreover, been proposed by my friend, and approved by Jonker and his tribe, with a view of upholding order and justice in the land; but how far they were carried out the sequel will show.

Fresh messengers had also been dispatched to the respective Namaqua and Damara chiefs, with a request that they would attend a general meeting in order to secure to the country a lasting peace. We could not, however, induce them to do this. The

104

JOHN WAGGONER.

late attacks were too fresh in their memory, to inspire confidence in either party: each distrusted his neighbor.

Jonker gave Mr. Galton much interesting and valuable information regarding the country northwards. He had, himself, made two or three expeditions in that direction, the last of which, as mentioned, was for the purpose of plundering a vessel, reported to have been wrecked off Cape Cross.

In the course of his journey, Mr. Galton visited Rehoboth, a Rhenish missionary station, and the residence of William Zwartbooi. The mission was here conducted by the Rev. Messrs. Kleinschmidt and Vollmer, and was at this period. the most flourishing establishment of the kind in the country.

Here my friend learnt with regret that John Waggoner, who, as the reader may remember, was dismissed at Barmen, had afterwards acted very disgracefully and dishonestly. He began by selling the same sheep to a trader three times over. And, just as Mr. Galton arrived, John had absconded with several head of cattle, stolen from the missionaries and the natives. My friend at once started off in pursuit; but though he followed on his track for a day and a night, he was obliged to return without having been able to overtake him.

Wherever John Waggoner went he represented himself as Mr. Galton's servant, and affirmed that he was intrusted with dispatches of moment for the British Government at the Cape. He added, moreover, that, under such circumstances, they were in duty bound to assist and speed him on his way. The most extravagant reports of our greatness and importance had already been circulated throughout the length and breadth of the land. by the natives themselves. This, together with John's impudent and confident air, produced the desired effect. Horses, cattle, wagons, etc., were everywhere promptly placed at his disposal. Even the missionaries were duped; and John is said to have reached his destination enriched with spoils, in an incredibly short time. His first act, on arriving at the Cape, was to engage himself to a trader, who imprudently advanced him a considerable sum of money, which he coolly pocketed and then decamped.

Our lad, Gabriel, also marked his road to the Colony with many traits of violence and insolence, but he had neither the cunning nor the impudence of his associate.

Abraham Wenzel, the thief, had again behaved improperly, and Mr. Galton found it necessary to give him his dismissal.

We had thus, in a short time lost the services of three men ;