Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-20

| self from the herd and make OF, and gal
| loped after him. He led me fine dance
and gave me but one opportunity OF
getting near him. which was too slow to
take advantage Of
Not Very Hard to Get Lost
After . two miles gallop pulled up
wondering what had become Of my COM
panions and where was In about half an
hour heard shot, and going in that direc-
ton found Lee anxiously looking for me.
In chase of this kind it is very easy for
the inexperienced to lose himself in the
veldt All landmarks get lost; the direc-
tion of the wind and the position of the sun
give little assistance when one has been
galloping hard for some distance. found
that all our galloping and shooting had
only resulted in the death Of one harte-
beest
After this we rode on for two hours with
out seeing any game, and were getting
near our camp about midday when we OBJ
served standing in grove fine herd of
10 or 20 roam antelope. These magnificent
creatures csntered of, but soon stopped to
look round, giving me capital shot, as I
happened to be in front of the others. I
fred both barrels at distance of some 80
mediately rose again and made off when
saw that his thigh was streaming with
blood. The uncertain expanding bullet
had smashed up on the surface without
penetrating. Lee got a shot at this fellow
and knocked him over, but he again got up
and followed the herd. We now thought
we would get good chase, for we had fol-
lowed them hard for mile and the bucks
were getting blown. Unfortunately they
made for spruit with high banks and
muddy bottom, and while We were search
ing for place to cross the stream escaped
away out Of our sight
The Wounded Ones Got Away.
Sir John Willoughby wounded one badly
Is the herd galloped down to the spruit and
on the other side he found q very bloody
spoor, which was followed up for some dis
tance fruitlessly. Then returning to look
for the animal which both Lee and had hit
so hard we found the place where he had
fallen. The grass was covered with blood, but
OF the antelope not q sign. Two natives
who had been following us at distance all
day came up and promised to spoor the
wounded beast and to bring the horns, which
were very fine, into camp. This, howeve-.
they failed to DO. I think if Lee had HIM
self spoored the animal we should certainly
soon have got him, but the day was hot, the
horses tired, the camp near, and all seemed
to make an immediate dinner necessary.
On our way to camp, after covering up
the first antelope shot, we saw more harte-
beest, but had had enough of chasing for that
day. On the following morning moved
our camp ten miles further on toward the
locality we were aiming at We outspanned
under large and lofty magundi tree.
This tree has at this season Of the
year leaves of the most vivid green, con-
trasting sharply with the prevailing
winter hues and gives a most beautiful and
welcome shade. During our morning trek
herd of hartebeese was seen from the
wagon, which Sir John Willoughby pur-
sued. After long chase he succeeded in
killing one close to the spot where we out
spanned. Now there were in camp four
dead antelope and much "billtong" was
made. -Four Mashonas had made little
hut down by our camp, and gladly assisted
in cutting up the meat, Of which they re-
ceived an ample supply.
How the Natives Hunt
Little native hunting parties are fire.
quently met with in this velut. Two or
three in number, with one wretched old
musket and two or three charges of ammu-
milton in common, they rarely kill anything
of themselves, but trusting to finding the
dead or wounded game of others, or to be-
ing fed by some hunting party such as ours
In default Of these resources, they subsist
on caterpillars, which are found in large
quantities on the topmost branches of Ger
tain trees
Toward evening went out for a short
ride with Lee in the vicinity of thu, camp.
We got no shot, making three unsuccessful
to stalk successively a fine old
pauw (bustard), an oribi (sort of gazelle),
and two hartebeest cows Fresh eland
spoor was seen, which kindled my hopes of
ohoua 6ra
the morrow.
Next day, accompanied by the "Baboon"
We hunted in the direction of the Umfuli
river. 1t was a morning of misfortune;
both Sir John Willoughby and I got good
standing shots at two solitary roam antelope
bulls, and both missed without excuse. Lee
also chased and fred at, without result, two
Koodoo cows Lee and again tried our
fortune in the afternoon over the open plain
extending to the north. We had q good
gallop after, and several shots at q herd of
hartbeests, of which I succeeded in killing
one. Lee, this afternoon, shot very badly.
He carried rifle of mine, a .557 single bar
rel Henry, and missed shot after shot at
easy distances. He was
much put out, and declared that the rife
with it we'll on previous days I could not
understand how the weapon could suddenly
have become worthless
The Beests Know Bad Marksmen.
On our wsv back to camp. as evening was
setting in, we got good shots at two roan
which hardly troubled to get out
ot our way. They we're perfectly right, as
We both missed easy shots, and Lee was
more than ever convinced of the badness of
,he rife.
While we were engaged in moving the
1e1t morning Sir John Willoughby hunted.
His gray pony played him a nasty trick,
off after he had dismounted to |
Ihoot at a'rait buck and Sir John had to
zone into camp on foot. One of the grooms |
vas sent in vain to look for the pony, and |
he ''baboon's" spooring skill had to be !
,alled upon to find the lost animal He |
n the afternoon. With the best trained |
Ind most certain horse, it is most unwise to |
neglect the precaution of attaching the |
,ridle to your waist BY string
While we were out spanning this morn |
ng my servant observed large snake close
o the wagon. I quickly got my gun and |
hot it while it was wriggling off into some |
push. When examined, Lee pronounced it |
o be cobra of considerable size. The bite
# this snake is very rapidly fatal to man or
,east. It measured feet inches in length, |
md was in thickness equal to about three
ingers Broad stripes of dull yellow and |
ray marked the body.
More Successful Chase.
In the afternoon took A SIT rifle nv.
elf and had a long ride, but no shot. Sir |
[ohn Willoug hby hunted toward the Um-
uli by hiu,self and shot roam antelope
'ull, not returning to camp till after dark.
Jext day we proceeded for hours passing at
lines through most lovely land.
Sot living creature did we see till noon.
hen Lee fred at rait buck long way of,