The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-06-21
Miscellaneous.
NIGHT IN An AFRICAN TREE.

Night is favorite time with almost
all wild animals for feeding or moving
about. Especially is this the case with
those African creatures which during
the day pass their time in forests or
caves. Elephants, particularly, select
the night for feeding, and will then quit
their dense cover, and wander on plains
where they would fear to show them
selves during daylight. On more than
one occasion we passed several hours Of
the night concealed among the branch
es of a tree, in order 10 have the oppor-
tunity Of watching the habits of some
of those animals whose nature it was to
lie hidden during the day.
On the first occasion that we ever
tried this experiment, we had taken for
our companion a friend who was ncilh-
er gifted with patience nor with that
enthusiasm which is necessary. We
remained in this tree some two hours,
our companion, by his frequent move.
ments and the noise he made, render
ing it unlikely that WE should 600 any
animal whose hearing was acute. Ihe
bright moonlight, however, that rend.
er5 everything by night almost as vlsi-
BE rs by day, tempted us to venture on
other ocasion5 to undertake night adj
ventures. And on more than one night
we were awarded by witnessing events
that DO not fall within the experience
Of every person.
One night in particular we recall as q
very interesting one. 1t was an after
noon lidc near the bush down by the
Imvoti river, where we had seen the
fresh spOor Of several elephants, that
We decided upon passing few hours in
Il large tree that stood apart from the
main bush and from the branches Of
which a very good view could be OBJ
tanned Of the ground. For g compan-
ion we selected cur usual hunting CAT
frc, who was always ready for sport,
and arIling him with one Of our guns,
we then started at about ten o'clock at
night, reached the tree after half an
hours walk, and soon were settled
amidst It's branches.
\ walk by night in u country where
there are such animals as lions, leop.
ards, hyenas, snakes, elephants, bulfa.
10 and other formidable creatures, re-
quires considerable caution, for it would
be excessively awkward to run against
one Of those animals, or to turn a cor
ner of a bush, and suddenly find your.
self face TO face with one of thom.-
There are, too, some creatures which
make practice of following men at
night-the hyIena in particular, as we
experienced on more than one occa-
sion.
Having taken our stations in the tree
we waited patiently for view Of some
animal. In spite of its being commonly
considered a comfortable place." we
believe that there is no seat more un-
comfortable for length Of time than q
seat in tree. First, it is very hard ;
secondly, it is impossible to change your
position much thirdly, there is always
risk Of falling, particularly if you get
sleepy and doZe, and it is almost impos.
sible to lie down, or even rccline. But
when it offers a secure retreat from wild
animals, it has its advantages.
For fully half an hour we saw moth
ing, although the rustling Of the bush
indicated that various animals were on
the move. The noises one hears al
night in wild country are very singu
lar, and when heard during the still
ness of an African night, few sounds
are more striking than the weird how
or moan of the "strand wolf" or by
cna. The cry also Of the jackal is par
ticularly wild, and can be heard from
verygroat distance; whilst the peculiar
note Of various night'birds is heard rs
they fit around the trees in which they
discover an intruder ON their domain
Arter listening to the various sounds
that occasionally were heard, we sud
denly discovered several animals almos
under the tree in which we were con
cealed. We dared not move, for Il
move was to make Il noise, and to maxi
a noise would alarm the animals, what
ever they were 1t was, therefore, nee
cssary to get good view of them with
out moving-a proceeding of some diff
Guilty; but we accomplished it, anC
found the creatures were bush-pig-
a large pig that lives entirely in tn
bush and is about as watchful and cum
ming as any animal that inhabits Afri
ca, its powers of hearing and scent be
ing very acute. 1t knows quite wei
when any danger threatens it and i
not without powers of defence, for
possesses tusks, that will rip up a do
or man as though razor was used.