Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-02-28

The country surrounding me was
maryelOuSly attractive, although only
sand very sparSely covered with bush,
therefore totally useless for agricultural
or pastoral purposes, but through the
fiat veldt'S surface, at irregular inter-
walls, rose copjes-immenSe blocks
of stone, piled one upon the other, that
reSembled the debris that might have
been left after Titans had built q
gigantic city or mammoth fertilization.
These eruptions from beneath the
earth's surface were covered with para
site plants, decorated with most at
tractive fruit or gorgeous blossoms.
A species of aloe, too, was numerous,
the upright stem which bears its fleecy
flower having very striking resem-
blance to civilizations unsightly tele-
graph poles.
This country is not destitute OF water,
as is attested by the numbers of ba-
boons, monkeys and leopards which
frequent the cOpes, and the antelopes,
zebras and guiuea-fowI which wander
over the flats. Possibly the indigenous
bushmen know where to find this neces-
sity of life, but these astute savages
carefully concealed their secret from
me and my people. was riding slowly
along admiring the beautiful colors OF
this distant landscape. In close attend
ance was my Mascara guide. My
reverie was broken by an unknown
sound, which echoed and re-echoed
from the surrounding crags. 1t was
not the honest bark of the baboon or
the reverberating voice Of the lion, or
the hyena's diScordant laugh, but a
combination OF all of them uttered in
quick successive gaSpS. On inquiry
from my companion he informed me
that kameelS (giraffes) were the orig
inatOrS of the unknown sound. The
Mascara begged me to follow him. This
I did, and became witness of one Of the
most extraordinary sights in wild life
that l had ever seen. Those who have
dwelt in the distant East have doubt
less seen male camelS fight, and noted
with what Obstinacy, power and vicious
ness they try to MAIN or disable one an
other; how they shrek with rage over
each advantage that they obtain, and
veil with pain when they are severely
hurt. A giraffe duel much resembled
camers. rs will be seen from what pro-
coed TO state.
The rivals were not we'll matched
the taller was out OF condition, and very
old; the other was in splendid form,
and the prime Of life. l concluded that
fight was imminent, and had no diih-
Guilty In deciding which would be the
victor. They roared in unison, as II
each were trying to drown the others
voice: sometimes this would cease for
few moments and then begin again with
renewed strength.
Presently the belligerentS came with
in a few yards of each other. Then COM
menced scene that battles all descrip-
ton. Some people might call IL ludi-
crous; it was far more; 1t was side
splitting, and, but for desire to see
the end, l must have given way to con-
vusions Of laughter Although the
giraffe possesses certain beauty when
at rest, IL loses its grace when IN mo-
toon, and the greater its speed the more
ungainly does it appear. But when TWO
mature bulls begin to waltz and dance
violently around each other, each
epdeavoring TO Guido the other in agil-
ity. at the same time mumbling their
laws and emitting fearfully discordant
roars, it is certainly one of the most alb
surd sights human eye ever looked
upon.
have often seen a crane dance-a
function common enough north of the
Vaal river. 1t is more than funny-it
Is ridiculous, but cannot for an instant
be compared 10 the antics OF these two
mammoth brutes. Their great height,
added 10 the grotesQueness OF their be-
hayior, but even if the beasts had been