Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-02-10
SOUTH AFRICA.

From these accounts we should INFER that II
is quite a remarkable book. The author
was employed among the natives Of South
Africa for twenty-three years, with remark
able success. From review of the work
in Tait's Magazine, we take the following
extracts:
The lovers of Natural History, and juve-
nile readers, will find much 10 crafty their
tastes in this volume, which abounds in an
ecdotes of lions, elephants, balloons, hyenas,
bulfaloes, &C., and ofthe dangers incurred
IN numerous encounters with them, while the
missionary was travelling through the arid
deserts. The perils and adventures of Mr..
CatIin among the Red Indians, and the buff
faloes and bsons of the "Far far west,"
not nearly so stirring as those of the missi,
airy Monat, in the wilds of Africa, WHILE
vouacking or seeking food for himself ana
his attendants in the chase. And he appears
to have handled a rifle quite as bravey and
skilfully as a text. One night, when sorcly
in want of" colop," he went with two of
his company, 10 watch at place where wild
cattle were likely 10 come to drink, resolving
TO shoot whatever first appeared, rather than
be, next day, exposed to the burning sun,
on an arid plain, in hunting for food. The
hunters lay in hollow place, close by the
fountain.
sit was half moonlight, and rather cold,
though the days were warm. We remained
for couple of hours, waiting with great anx-
iety for something to appear. We at length
heard loud tapping at the water, under the
dark shadowy bank, within twenty yards of
us. "What is that!' l asked Bogachu.
"Rrimaa," (be siIent,) he said "they are
lions, they will hear u.s." a hint was more
than enough; and thankful were we, that,
when they had drunk, they did not come over
the smooth grassy surface in our direction.
Our next visitors were two bufaloes, one i'm
mensely large. My wagon-driver, Mosi
who also had gun, seeing them coming d.
rectly towards US, begged me to fire. re-
fused, having more dread of wounded but.
fao than of almost any other animal. He
fired (; and though the animal was severely
wounded, he stood like a statute with his
companion. within hundred yards Of US
for more than an hour, waiting to see u.
move, in order to attack US. We lay in ar
awkward position for that time, scarcely dar'
ing to whisper; and when he at last retiret
we were SO stiff and cold, that flight woult
have been impossible had an attack beef
. made. We then moved about till our bloot
r began to circulate. Our next visitors were
gira1es; one ofthese we wounded. A trool
, of quaggas next came but the successful in
: stinct of the principal stallion, in surveyin:
the precincts of the water, galloping rount
in all directions to catch any strange scent
and returning to the troop with whls'lin,
noise, to announce danger, set them of a
full speed. The next was huge rhinoce
d ros, which, receiving mortal wound, depar
y ted. Hearing the approach of more lions
y we Judged it best to leave; and after a lone
e " walk of four miles through bushes, hyena
:, and iackals, we reached the village, when
. felt thankful, resolving never to hunt by nigh
:. at waterproof, till could find nothing L
eat elsewhere. Next day the rhinoceros an
S buffalo were found, which afforded plenttt
d supply" -,
s The thrilling adventures of Mr.. Moaat, an
: :. other travellers in Africa, throws the feats {
!, our lion-tamers of the theatre into the shad,
= In another place our hunter relates
"When had occasion to hunt, in orde
,. to supply the wants Of myself and people,
!; troop of men men would follow, and as 500
,r as rhinoceros or any other animal was sho
t. a fire was made, and some would be roas
IL ing, while the others would be cutting an
Il. Is tearing away al the ponderous carcase, whic
az is soon dissected. During these operation
n. they would exhibit all the gestures of heath
at enish Joy, making an uproar as if tow
c. were on fire. do not wonder that M
al Campbell once remarked on similar occa
On sion, that from their noise and gestures /
did not know his travelling companion
u, Having once shot rhinoceros, the men SUI
50 rounded 1t with roaring congratulation.
20. vain shouted that it was not dead: doze
OF spears were thurst into il, when up startt
if the animal in fury, and tearing up ii
IN ground with his horn, made every one fly
terror. These animals were very numero,
in this part of the country they are not or,
- garIous, more than four or five being seldo
as seen together, though | once observed nil
n following each other to the water. The
fear no enemy but man, and are fearless
ia. him when wounded and pursued. The liz
us flies before them like cat; the mohohu, Il
IN. largest species, has been known even to k
the elephant, by thursting the horn into i
no ribs"
n On another occasion, when Moflat W
nd traversng the desert, bound on distant e
:, petition, he relates
do do sour journey lay over wild and drea
~ country, Inhabited by BALLADS only, and b
sprlnkling of these. On the night of d
md third days journey, having halted at POT
ice Khokhole,) we listened, on the lonely plai
for the sound of an inhabitant, but all was
D. lent. We could discover no lights, al
no. amid the darkness were unable to trace ia
ow marks to the pool. We let loose our wea
ldy ed oxen to drink and Craze, but as we we
o ignorant of the character Of the compa
the with which we might have TO spend the mig
- we took hrebrand, and examined the ode
low of the pool to see, from the imprints, wi
,ns animals were in the habit of drinking the