The weekly Butte record., 1863-02-21
Hunting the Giraffe.

alloy, from the bearing of these splendid aud
harmless animals under the deadly persecution
To the sportsman, says the Captain, the
most thrilling passage in my adventures is now
to be recounted. In my own breast ii awakeDs
a renewal of past impressions, more lively than
any written description can render intelligible;
and far abler pens than mine, dipped in more
glowing tin,s, would still fall short Of the
reality. and leave much to be supplied by the
Imagination. Three hundred gigantic elephants
browsing in majestic tranquility amidst the
wild maguifcence of an African landscape,
wide-stretching plain, darkened as far as the
eye can reach with moving phalanx Of gnoos
and qnaggas, whose numbers literally battle
computation, are sights but rarely to be wit
messed but who amongst our brother Nimrods
shall hear of riding familiarly by the side of a
troop Of colossal graffes, and not feel bis spirit
stirred within him? He that would behold so
marvellous a sight must leave the haunts Of
man, and dive, as we do, into pathless wilds
traversed only by the brute creation, into wide
wastes where the grim lion prowls, monarch of
all he surveys, and where the gauut hyGaa and
wild dog fearlessy pursue their prey.
Macy days have now elapsed since We had
even seen the camelopard, and then only in
small numbers, and under the most unfavorable
circumstances. The blood coursed through
my veins like quicksilver, therefore, as on the
morning of the 10th, from the back of Breslar
my trusty steed, with firm wooden plain be-
fore me, counted thirty-two of these animals
industriously stretching their peacock necks to
crop the tiny leaves which futtered above their
heads, in a mimosa-grove that beauti6ed the
scenery. They were within a hundred yards
of me, but, having previously determined to
try the boarding system, | reserved my fire.
Although l had taken the field expressly to
look for giraffes, and had put four of the Hot
tentots on horseback, all excepting Pet had as
usual, slipped off unperceived in pursuit of
troop Of koodoos (Srepsioeros Koodoo) Our
steathy approach was soon opposed by an i'll
tempered rhinoceros, which with her ugly calf
stood directly in the path and the twinkling
of her bright little eyes, accompanied by the
restless rolling of the body, giving earnest of
her intention to charge, directed Piet to sa
lutte her with broadside, at the same moment
putting spurs to my horse. At the report Of
the gun aud the sudden Gathering of hoof
away bounded the girafes in grotesque confu
sion, clearing the ground by a succession of
frog like hops, and soon leaving me far in the
rear. Twice were their towering forms con
cealed from view by park OF trees, which We
on emerging from the labyrinth, did I per-
ceive them fitting over an eminence immeas
ureably in advance. 4 white turban, that
wore round my hunting-cap being dragged off
by projecting bough, was instantly charged
by three rhinoceroses and, looking over my
shoulder, could see them long afterwards, fag
ging themselves to overtake me. In the course
of five minutes the fugitives arrived at small
river, the treacherous sands of which receiving
their long legs, their flight was greatly retard-
ed and, after foundering to the opposite side
and scrambling to the top of the bank, per-
ceived that their race was run. Patting the
steaming neck of my good steed, l urged him
again to his utmost, and instantly found myself
by the side of the herd The stately bull,
being readily distinguishable from the rest by
his dark chestnut robe and superior statue, ap
piled the muzzle of my rifle behind his dappled
shoulder, with the right hand, and drew both
triggers, but he still continued to shuttle along,
and being afraid of losing him, shoud dis
mount among the extensive mimosa groves with
which the landscape was now obscured, sat
in my saddle, loading and firing behind the
elbow, and then placing myself across his path,
until the tears trickliug from his full brilliant
eye his lofty frame began to totter, and at the
seventeenth discharge from the deadly grooved
bore, bowing his graceful head from the skies,
bis proud form was PROSTATE in the dust
Never shall forget the tingling excitement Of
that moment Alone, in the wild wood,
hurried with bursting exultation, and unsad.
ding my steed, sank exhausted beside the
noble prize l had won.
When 1 had leisurely contemplated the mas
sive frame before me, seeming as though it had
been cast in mould of brass, and protected
by hide of an inch and half in thickness. it
was no longer matter of astonishment that a
bullet, discharged from distance of eighty
yards, should have been attended with little
effect upon such amazing strength. The ex-
treme height from the crown of the elegantly
moulded head to the hoof of this magnificent
animal, was eighteen feet; the whole being
equally divided into neck, body. and leg. Two
hours were passed in completing drawing
Piet still not making his appearance, | cut of
the tail. which exceeded FIVE feet in length,
and was measureleSsly the most estimable tro-
ply I had gained but proceeding to saddle