New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-04-19
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
GILLMoRE's GREAT THIRST LAND.

NATAL orange FREE STATE, TRANsvAAL,
AND KALAHARI DESERE BY PARKER GILL
MORE Syo. pp. 46G. Cassell Peter, d Galpn
The "ubiauitous" author of this volume after
having shot in every forest and fished I'D every
stream, exhausting the resources OF the sportsman
both in the Old World and the New, was tempted
once more TO try his fortune in the wlds OF couth-
ern Africa and has here given a lively, rolhcklng
recital Of his adventures among the beasts OF prey
both brute and human, of that dry ana thirsty ahd'
His companion on the expedition was stal"aIt
Scotch Nimrod, known for the occasion by the
name Cf Morris, q tall, strappng youth, SIX
feet in height and nearly one hundred and seventy
five pounds in weight, and though valiant hunter
in the woods a very quiet, gcntlemanly, unassum-
ing person in social life Though not quite thirty
years old he had travelled all over the world, killed
large gamein India, the MALAY ArchTolago, and the
Rocky Mountains, and bagQed wild fowl, pheasants,
and snipe in China and India. A fellow CT doubt
full pretensons whose acquaintance they had
made during the voyage, insisted on joining the
party on their arrival at Cape Town. lie couiu
speak Dutch, and prOfessed to be an expert III the
management and driving of cattle. As he was SUD-
iec to an ntolerable thirst it was thought that he
would be entirely at home in the Great Thirst
Land and they consented to the proposal ON cOndi-
ton that he would behave himself like Christian
and sportsman. After making good start on the
Journey. one of the first experiences of the author
was rencontre with an old friend, which pleasant
episode is pleasantly described
During the morning treck, was apprised by one OF
the Beers that person was following US lapuy OH
horseback evidently with the intention OF oyertakhS
us / did not pay much attention to the circumstance
al the time but Judge of my surprise when, quarter
Of an hour afterwards geneman acc9mPdmieG oS ra
after-rider, 10 me- auo held out MS manu- iOI
the life OF me. could not Teeolect nm, A. 80. g,
well that is good 20 )" Do you think sof' You
don't wish TO cut me ~ But really don't Know
A;t Won teii me- Vonr name 4" Because the whole
Thing so absurd" &" Is i'll Well, it had better cease
YOU Old donkey don't get cross-its Jack
Ben Net Goodness. Rut who on earth wouId have ex
pected to see you here No wonder did not know
you why, You have grown so much hair about your
formerly he shaved Ia miiitairel. Never mind my
not knowing you; am deuced glad TO see you we wiz
Outspan at the first water and lave as good meal as
Morris here Joined me- and both had capital laugh
OF my expense; which the. perfectly welcome TO-
more particularly as tho Int ii would raise the lattel
Possibly S' the i reader S like to know who gen
Geman was: there are who don't know ms father
time had seen Jack three years before, on raw
autumnal morning, at Ludgate Hill station His cousin
and were bound for the lower portion OF me mesa
peake Bay, 10 live oysters canvasback ducks,
tcrrapns and the numerous good things that prolific re-
possibly to extend to ConstantinOple.
Arriving at HOwick two three days after our de-
Jack had followed over q hundred miles.
All along route he learned of our advance and at
heard
was nearly coming TO blows in my defence 80 we out,
spanned, and discussed old friends and places visited
together; it was truly right pleasant meeting.
As the travellers advance into the interior, they
find abundance of game, and the domestic animals
presented many queer specimens of natural history,
of which the author makes some curious notes. The
cattle were of all colors Sizes and shapes presenting
motley show such as could be seen in no herd in
Europe. The Lake bullock was an immense, I'M
wieldy, -bOned creature, with bones so promi-
nent that it never appears fat The head is coarse,
and the dewlap very large. The enormous horns,
beyond all conception in length stand out at almost
right angles from the head. For draft oxen over
the Great Thirst Land, they cannot be excclled.
There is another large, black. massive OK, with
pendant horns which appear TO swing loose with
every movement of the animal. The ordinary
Kaflr OK, unlike anything of the kind in Europe,
with its short and compact body, its long
legs, and an embryo hump on its withers, abounds
everywhere the Zulus are remarkable for their
symmetry and "genteel" appearance; but the
most beautiful of all is the MashOOna The fOrma
ton of this animal is perfect; the body is massive
and square the head and horns are models of fine
proportion. They are almost invariably black. are
excellent workers, with admirable tempeTs. The
sheep are of nondescrlpt character and well
worthy of attention Without horns, with hair
instead of wool, very long, stillke legs, and tail
in the shape of a small pillow, and about as large
they would seem to belong to newly discovered
genus. They are as pugDaclOus as cats and dogs
and will often fight to the death if not parted. But
the author soon fell in with more truculent beast
whose acquaintance he makes Unexpectedly as he
was quietly pursuing his journey
With slack rein | rode the dogs were clustered
around me- for the heat of the afternoon and want OF
water had commenced TO tell upon them, when up
sprang the largest leopard that had ever seen ard at
af
az fe sS's scattered gI4eT irees ."
The appearance of the game was so sudden that it
moments before left the saddle, aud when got
ready TO shoot the dogs were between me and the
SeH' the St bullet t Under Se feet but
in doing hit part OF its body. However giving
10 more evidence of its mlshap than shorter and more
savage Crowl as well as an acceeration of speed 1t
pursued its course heretofore BY this time the dogs
Of temeT1ty would have Insured instant death.
Soon the trees were reached but Instead OF the 5eop
and the pack scattered like chat before the wind APP
gun in place Of the lately discharged singlebarrced
rifle. To my surprise none OF the Dushmen would 30
and more bold aud clamorons one cur that had picked
up HartebeestonteiD, near KleTksdOrp, particularly
for the now thoroughly enraged cat made a dash for
ward and with sweep OF her paw gave Macguire such
accident If this continued longer, clearly that
not of my would be left, so advanced to get
a clear shot, and terminate the matter This was
difficult as the dogs always kept between me and the
However the panther had singled me for his next vic
tim with couple OF bounds 1t cleared the yelpng
hounds, and in moment would have been me- but
that snap shot stopped 1t in its charge; manned
and iueapacated for further injury 1t bit and clawed
the dust gave it second barrel at short range, and
thus ended the fracas
With the exception Of the buffalo, this is the most
dangerous animal that can he encountered: its activity
surprising, and its vitality uDequalled Moreover it
exceeds all other animals by its audacity at night III
preaching an encampment when dogs are its fayOrtc
prey Horses also among its principal victims,
especially colts and many the Inhabitants OF SOshOng
who have justly to complain OF the serious damage they
have suffered at its hands.
and fhe NJ