Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-08-14
Leopard Adventures in South Africa.

One OF the most graceful, active and pow.
eriul creatures in existence is the leopard an
animal that inhabits various parts of India,
as well as all parts of Africa. Inferior in
strength to the lion and tiger, il is superior to
these members Of the cat tribe in agility, foI
the leopard is like the common cat, tree
climber, and may occasionally be seen crouch.
ing along branch, waiting for some victim to
come within its reach
A full grown African leopard attains the
height Of three feet and is about seven feet
in length, size that gives but feeble idea
Of the creatures enormous strength and nc.
tivty, evidences Of both of which must be
seen in order that they may be believed The
color and markings of leopard are so well
known that it is unnecessary to describe them
but we may mention that the sickness and
briliancy Of leopard's coat when the crea-
ture is enjoying the freedom of its native
wids, are but poorly represented by the ami.
mails fur as seen in cage, in England. A
eopard's coat shines like satin when the ami.
NAL is in full health and activity, whilst it
seems capable Of casting of every spcck OF
dust or dirt, so glossy and clean does it look.
If the country which a leopard selects for
its residence be inhabited by man, the animal
will lie concealed during the daytime, and
commence its wanderings as soon as the sun
goes down. but if the country be thoroughly
wild, leopard will not hesitate to wander
about by day. So watchful is the leopard and
so accurate are its senses, that it is rarely, il
ever, surprised and so ceverly does it slip
away and take advantage Of every bit of cover,
that although the hunter is frequently aware
that he is close to the leopard, yet to see it is
uncommon.
A good hunter who has become acquainted
with the traces left by various animals, seems
to have gained an additional sense, for he by
glance, as it were learns that he is near
some wild animal when a novice would have
no idea that such was the case.
A leopard also has habit Of rolling itself
on the ground, just as a cat does sometimes
on the hearth-rug, and in this process of roll
ing several hairs from the creatures fur are
usually left on the ground, and are seen and
recognized by close observer for in Africa,
where poisonous snakes are numerous, the
pedestrian who wandcrs through the forest
does not place his foot at random on the
ground, but looks now and then several PAGES
in front, in order that he may not tread on a
venomous reptile, or on a dried stick, the
cracking of which would alarm the neigh.
borhood, Thus every mark on the ground is
noticed and smooth patch such as an ami.
NAL makes in rolling, is at once observed, and
consequently y closely searched for spoor, or
traces of the creature that has left its marks.
Horses or dogs that have been bred in, or
have lived long in Africa, become partcu-
larly watchful and conscious of the presence
of leopard
The first leopard We ever saw in its wild
state was out in a wide plain, miles away
from any bush, kloof or forest, or locality
which seemed likely to afford secure cover to
leopard. We were riding with friend in
search of an antelope the country was open,
with long grass covering il, rocks and dry
water-courses being the only breaks to the
otherwise fiat, smooth surface. As we rode
slowly on we saw some animal moving in the
distance, and this animal we marked down in
some long grass. We rode toward the spot
where the animal had disappeared keeping a
good lookout for i; ; but we saw nothing un-
Ill we came to the edge Of kind of dry
ditch where we remarked slight movement
Of the grass on the opposite bank, about ten
PAGES from MS. Just as we turned our horses
slightly, in order to get the object on our left
and thus have a fair shot at it, up jumped
magnificent leopard, which gave a savage
sna7l ond showad his ,oe,h ss ho hounJed
avav like a hare
The eject On our ,wo borses uos magical
instead of s,ond;n,, s,o.dv os volI- -hoS Savod
sboo,inc.borse ongbt N do thew both started
oro ~ ;n, ran;dlv whilst ,be o,bor ,,y;s,od
rourd ond soared ;brs ofTec,naIlv nrevon,;na
a;uo ho;na ,aLen at tho leonord wboso mad
,raa ~ .ha, Ia soor a., oc h,,lIo, .an,,o
and lost siobt Of amidst tho lono grass and
nnd,In,ions or oronnd Th;s 1eonard was
en- - L,,, ,os as Go sraa;r,o,l a.. go
sh;oh .a .,,orwards saw and maJe close oc.
",'at,',s.oa 49, III
f' Th c., c';. sho, ma ovor ob,o;nod =.
lo0na.d ooonrrsd when wa wore search;n,, cor
1T ovp"iu -; 49, hnsh A. mo- ,ro.o o,oso;s,
G,tIe o onon o. "" srace botween two dense nor,;ons
"e 80 "" r. so,u o,,;",al oonooaI ;,s"ic
omons Uu ,bo bushes at some distance in 'front.' nf
-" w. Lnoyv S.ono J' tho onnosranoa ,ho, ,ba
uo' 80" ,.o" ~ ~ a. II L.. tat
- :, 49,. - ". I.a,osl ~
a''I1 ~, y. g., 80 g. ,na n.,1, oLip;ra1
Yu'e NV ~ "ios ~, 10 oy h'"Lan ov
.;S ~ wL tpp,Ji ,',;' 90 'P, ,ho haa,,,;c'I ",.
sno,,oS ' oOa, ~" oc ,he Ie6nar5 and NJ at once ga
=, W. hol;avod ,vo beard ,he hnlIs, s,,;to
hrt conld no, soe ,bo resnI,s =, on reIoad;no
we .nnroached the snot where The IeonaTd
had d!s.nneo,ed and Looked ont sor Some
s;,n ScprceIv had we s,ood s,iIl cor mo.
IS, 49, ,,Lar a.: iaonar1 s,os,od ~, c.o,, ~
No., nndn. ON CT and ,v;,h ,romendons