The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1873-11-19
MISCELLANY.
A SOUTH AFRICAN ADVENTURE

1t was on the afternoon of one of the hottest
days of an African Summer, that l left my
farm to ascend to Draakensburg Mountains,
for the purpose of finding IL possible, an
Gland, species of antelope, to replenish my
larder for the coming Christmas. was at the
time living alone in glen formed by two
spurs of the mountain, with but few neigh
bors, and no town within fifty miles, but as
my Kaffirs had became sufficiently civilized to
understand Christmas time meant unlimited
eating | wished, by providing game, to save
an OK. l had only five OF six miles to GO and
was well mounted, so l did not hurry, but
leading my horse up the steep pass, reached
the place where ] intended to sleep, just as
the sun was setting.
The scene around, though quite different
from our ideas of what 1t should be in Decem-
Der, was very beautiful. There was no snow,
no leafess trees with their delicate tracery set
off by the glistening hoar frost, nor dark green
frs bending under their white load but still
there was enough to keepme SANDING forget
full of firewood, and all that had to do for
my comfort during the night.
was on narrow ledge of rock, separated
from the network of hills beyond by a deep
perpendicular gorge, at the bottom of which,
SO Ear down that could hardly distinguish, IL,
ran little burn. The setting sun gave the
peaks that rich purple hue seldom seen. away
from heather, and on the other side, as far as
the eye could reach, lay the thorn-covered flats
and hills of Natal
Under the rock was large cave, where
had determined to sleep. 1t had in olden
times been regular resort of the bushmen,
but few come near it now indeed, had not
known they came at all, but on going in l
found some calabashes, and the ashes o. a
newly made fire. There were other marks OH
the walls, though evidently of great antiquity;
rude sketches and drawings of cattle, horses,
bows and arrows, and even of bushman
riding. It is most curious that race so low
in the scale of humanity that their language
only contains few words made up of unpro-
nounceable clicks, and who with the exception
of the use of fire, in the mode of life differ but
little from ape should have learned to do this.
1t may be that it is remnant of an old sign
language, or the last relic of some former
civilization. 1t was full moon, and after
admiring the wonderful lights and shadows,
thrown by it on the broken ground, turned in
and slept illnear daylight. 40
As soon as could sec | started to hunt
Much to my annoyance at the time, though I
afterward had reason to be thankful that my
horse was spared such gallop as an Gland
hunt entails, ! could do nothing, and could
tell by the spoons that there had been no herd
around for some days. 1t was nearly noon be-
fore became convinced of this; and tempted
by shady nook embarrassed Prince and Law
down. OF course dozed off, but soon awolxe
with a sudden return to consciousness, and
with all my wits about me, an inward feel
ing which perhaps some of my readers have
experienced of something being wrong, and n
tension of all the powers Of hearing to discover
what it is. had not long to wait. Whiz came
tiny arrow, striking the stone on which nv
head had been resting. 1t did not require
much thinking to know that bushman's
hand held the bow from which it came, nor to
determine that the safest thing to do was to roll
quietly into little brook that flowed near by.
Luckily this would afford good shelter, and |
could almost reach the edge with my hand.
The tremendous violence with which these
streams come down the hills during the thun-
der-storms wears deep passage and though
there was only an inch of water and the banks
were onlyla yard apart, they were nearly four
feet high. Just as l was disappearing anoth-
er arrow came and struck me in the thigh. It
| took all my self-control to continue my move
ments as before until stood crouching at the
bottom "Why," the reader may say, +" the
pain of such an arrow cannot be great" No,
neither is the bite of a snake, in itself, yet of
the two it is the least to be dreaded. 1t was
poisoned with that deadly skill for which the
whole tribe is famous, and knew | had little
chance of seeing another sunrise.
However, with that self-help that men who
lead solitary life acquire, | instantly drew
my hunting knife, ripped up the trousers, and
with steady hand cut out the arrowhead,
not sparing myself, took my flask and pour
ed powder into my wound, and gently striking
match set fire to it. That done took off my
belt, and using my full force strapped it a
little above as tight as it would 90.
] do not think that in doing all this had any
hope of saving my life--there was only a sort
of feeling that was doing my daty. The
pain was not very great, and my chief thought