National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1868-07-24
A Distinguished Stranger.

to Van Am burgh u Co, by their
agent in Africa. VIM. i. Clayton,
arrived in New York on the 4th in.
stant, per steamer Hansa.
1t was captured in Central Africa,
in February last, together with an
other one, which unfortunately died
.on the voyage from Cape Town to
Liverpool.
These remarkable animals, which
are obj ,cts Of so much interests and
curiosity among all classes of the
community, and which from their
anomalous form and peculiar dis.
position have attracted the atten-
tion ofthe most distinguished natu-
ralistS and savants, are SO delicatcly
organized that they rarely survive
long in C0ne!inement. They are
most difficult of capture, owing to
the peculiar character Of the coun.
try they inhabit, and their remarka.
NE swiilness of foot.
Mr.. Clayton was over four months
in pursuit of these animals before he
succeeded in capturing any alive,
although he had while in chase of
them killed several.
They 90 about in herds Of from
four to six or cight-rarely more
and as soon as they are pursued
they take to tie bush, which is so
thick and impcnctrable that a horse
nine times out of ten. will refuse to
follow them. In fact, horses who
are not used to the peculiar and
strong eflluvia which they emit when
pursued, will rarely follow them at
all, as they become nervous and
frightened to such an degree that
the most eloquent pcrsuasiyeness of
whip and spur usually tall of effect.
As soon as the giraffe catches
sight of his pllrsuer he bounds away
with enormous strides, his tail car.
ried high in cir and curled up like
a corkscrew, generally selecting the
toughest and most stony ground he
can find, and casting the houlders
and stones behind him with his feet
as he wildly dashes for the thickest
and most thorny bush. The two
which Mr.. Clayton succeeded in
capturing belonged to a drove of
eight, and by the aid of some half
dozc 4 OF his kailir guides, he man.
aged to separate bull aud COW
from the herd, to which he gave
chase. 1t was as he described it, o
''stern chase which is proverbially
a long one, and he was just on the
point of giving it up, when the pair
suddenly disappeared i'll Il thick
chaparral, into which he found it
Impossible to follow them. The
I\ailirs. dismounting, however sue
ccedcd in forcing their way thro',
and by shouting and firing their
guns, frightened them SO, that the
bull suddenly sprang out within
few feet of Mr. Clayton, who sat on
his horse with his leathern lasso,
with its heavy ball of iron at the
end, in hand, prepared for the cmer.
gency. The moment the bull ap.
peared Clayton started in pursuit,
the curling line with its treacherous
swing, was sent whirling like light
ming through the air, and found %
lucky Judgement upon the Giratfe's
neck, nearly close down to his shoul-
; dcrs. Checking his horse suddenly
. while the flying giraffe was ru shing
madly on, the frightened animal
; was instantly thrown upon his
5 launches and with the assistance
! of the kaliirs and "John,' COM
l paniOn of Mr.. Clayton, he was safe
~ hobbled and placed h0rs dc cont
lat. The COW was shortly after
| captured by the same means, ald
both animals were safely corrallel
the same night, amid great rejoicing.
| \ few weeks Suiliced to living them
; under suhjection, so that they be-
| came as tame and tractablc as pet
/ !aWnS, and were sent to Cape Tow II,
e from whence they were shipped to
+ Liverpool.
{ The voyage occupied one hundred
. and twenty days, during which the
. female died. The male evinccd
Z much grief ut the loss of his COM
e panion, refusing to eat for some
X days, and fears were cntcrt aimed
lest he too would die but he arriv-
!. ed in Liverpool in safety, where he
!, was trans shipped, and arrived here
II on Saturday last, in splendid con
/. dition. He is over twelve feet in
e height. and is by all odds the finest
II specimen of the family of Camel
y opardc ever captured. 1t was sent
IS few days since to Boston, and now
e forms one of the many attractions
" of Van Amburgh S Co.'S maenii
is cent Golden Mcnagrrlc, and where
/, it is daily admired b. thousands OF
!. pcrsons.--N. Y. ETpnss.