The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-08-06
2 s. d. 80 p 7717'''
OSTRICH HUNTING IN SOUTH AFRICA.
from the Ph,tadeiphtd Prsss

PETER MABrtzBURd, Juno Capt. James
Fewsmith and Thomas Harrod recently re-
turned from an ostrich hunt beyond the Trans
wal. In tho noighborhood Of the Orange River
The game inhabits tho dry portions Of Africa
from Egypt and the Barbary Stntes TO the Cape
and were he not the most idiotic game IN the
verdi II would have been almost impossible to
capture or shoot him. The ostrich's sight and
hearing arc wonderfully kcon. and he can run
~ tho ratio OF milo IN two minutes for q long
time. but with every advantage on his side. his
own stupidity proves his destruction.
notified but as tbs a dn n' ss wepe Ven Soi
they picketed their animals under shade trees
and threw themselves on tho, ground to smoke
and rest until the sun should dgscend lower in
me SKY. A half hour later Capt. Fewsmith
called attention to n curious visitor approach
lug. As the two hunters rose to their feet they
perceived that he was a bushman, without any
covering for his hoad with very scanty shirt.
no fHSotgenr and with his tronscrs sung over
most to t6o bursting point When tho Si Native I've
weighted garments and drew out an ostrich
egg which nc he presented 70 Can't Fewsmith
who Ss % ma nj Hs d Of Sc
rather happy trousers log The owner. on
coming upon the ostrich nest. had doiled his
band. with which he tied lie bottom me- Of each
trousers log, and then ho had proceeded to
an Amoricnn urchin often shows in gathering
sperimons for his collection.
There me We're six 81 those eggs in ono leg. seven
contained round dozen moro. When it is
made known that each egg. weighed about
ishment 70 twenty-four hans eggs. it will DO
seen that not only was the capucity Of the
and his family Tho hunters had tasted ostrich
eggs before, but found them So strong that they
did not break the shell of the one left them by
the bushnan, who wont away shortly aftor. but
as they were in an ostrich country, they re-
mounted their horses later in the afternoon and
I
well aware from previous experience OF the
difficulties in the way OF success. Turning the
or three miles away, they rode along until the
base was nearly rnsehod. when they roined up
the, saddle TO examine the. curious sight
Of he S aGGs and Y Sa sd p nq Ss
feet across. Tho eggs stood on end 80 as to
oHcppy the sae1t posshne Cd space As these
count, them II several foot distant, Like the
gilded pipes Of the organ in church, which one
they are 80 very similar that thoy blend and
run together 50 that the eye has. hard work to
native knows how to keep the supply of eggs
going instead of gathering in ali, like that
par fe'6w 10 VII jfi,aily draw out
she returns viii now notice That there are less
through the, season-from June to October"
The friends now rode to the top Of the ridge.
hating and taking a careful survey of the
country before them. the result was ono that
awakened hope and delight Less than a half
mile distant was Q ridge paraIo with the ono
ran valley several miles in extent. Near tho
middle OF this two ostriches were grazing.
while a gentle breeze was blowing from the
cast: Instead of separating and attempting TO
flank the birds. the horsemon rode At "a leisure
y gallop in the direction of the eastern end of
the valley. This was narrower than the oppo-
sito opening which therefore offered tho very
boSt chance in the world for the birds to escape.
tor thaNEn a
open country beyond. where they would be safe
against harm during that afternoon at least;
an exh btion Of stupidity which approaches
the marvellous. The sight ot tho hunters max
ing for the eastern onening of the valley
only avenue Of lisSt, and instead Of tar Ming
their long. swift trot toward the point ut which
the hunters were also heading with much the
start Of the birds The singular chase could
not have lasted long. whom the birds running
horscmen were sure to reach the opening ahead
hack. but they also failed to swerys in the
slightest degree from their course ON which
speed, and with their unganiy necks out out
stretched, struck a two minute trot and sped
away forthe most dangerous point on the hori-.
zon. AS the pursuerS were quite certain OF
their game. they now slackened their gait
somewhat. and each fired shot, The bullet Of
bird. which ran u fcw steps In wild stagger-
ing way. and then went down its head plough
saddle, the Captain hurried toward and and cut cut
the throat OF tho ostrich to end its sniierings
1t was almost at the same instant that Har-
rod discharged his rifle. and seeing the bird
act strangely he was confident OF having in
hicted mortal wound. and was scarcely be-
hlnd the Captain In springing to the ground to
But no had made slight mistake. for whom
~ aGS hsa M haefyg s rd pa9 S
give hi the finishing touch, the ostrich seemed
to brighten up. Before the gentleman suspect
which tnmbled the hunter over on his back as
i struck BY falling tree; The ostrich i 5eaEa-
panther or jacknl. and he does it by throwing
his foot forward the same us a man. In the
present instance Mr. aarrod fell so quickly that
ing him to his feet he was found to DO little in
jqred. although he declared that he. knew more
The bird kept on trotting straight away until
nc vanished in the twilight and was seen no
60 into camp and wait till tho morrow
ostrich. Every schoolboy recalls. the picture Of
tho birds who is thereby enabled to approach
close enough to herd to bring down several
hunter lies in wait and uses poisoned arrows.
In North Africa the game is pursued on
day n' u Ghfo the ob BIRD ery y
making resistance somotimesn herd is forced
knock them in the head. The European horse
men prefer to conceal themselves near pools
and springs, whore the bird is in the habit OF
coming TO DIR ink. so as to shoot him un;lwares.
plnmaee. These feathers arc very costly. it
rarely happening that more than two dozen
marketable ones can be obtained from single
bird March or April il the best season as tho
ostrches have recovered their moult. and the
feathers are elastic and vigorous 1t ia neces-
Sary also that the feathers should be plucked
from tho body of the bird before it gets cool or
they will be found to have lost much OF their
glossine and disposition to curl