Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-27
NECK AND NECK
Two south African Giraffe. Epv.,. q,
Desperate Battle for Leade,sh,r

4
From the London Graphic
10 tine south and eastward Of I,oharcr,.,.
capital is situated Macalaca Land. II 49,
quered by that doughty monarch's f.tber NJ
ilikatze, and still remains subservient 80 a.
Matabeles. The approximate position % ,,,
camp at the time witnessed the scene viii
endeavor to describe was latitude 2le son,h
longitude $50 east
Inc country surrounding me was marvel |
ousiy attractive. although only sand, very |
sParse'y covered with bush, therefore totally |
USELESS ior agricultural or pastoral purposes,
pu' .nrough tne nat veldt's surface. at irregu-
lar intervals, rose copies Of immense blocks 81
stone, piled one upon the other, that resembled
the debris that might have been left after n
tans had built a gigantic city or mammoth for-
tlhcauon. These eruptions from beneath the
earth's surface were covered with narasttic
plants, decorated with most attrac,i,a s.. ' Wv
gorgeous blossoms. species of aloe. too was
numerous, the upright stem which hear -
flower having very striking resemblance 70
civIilzation's unsightly telegraph poles.
This country is not destitute OF water as Il
attested by the numbers of balloons. monlers
ana leopards that frequent the comics and ~
antelopes. zebras and guinea fowl that vandas
over the flats. Possibly the indigenous PnsS-
men know where to find this necessity of life
but these astute savages carefully conceaIad
their secret from me and my people. Iva.
riding slowly along admiring the beautiful COL
ors OF this distant landscape. In close attend
ance was my Mascara guide. NV reyerie was
broken by an unknown sound, which echoed
and re-echoed from the surrounding crags II
was not the honest bark of the baboon or tba
reverberating voice of the lion. or the byena's
discordant laugh, but combination of ali of
them, uttered in quick, successive gasps. On
inquiry OF my follower he informed me that
kameels (giraffes) were the originntors on tbe
Unknown sOnp,1 The
follow him. This did, and so became witness
of one OF the most extraordinary sights in wild
life that 1 had ever seen. Those who have
dwelt In the distant east have doubtless seen
male camels night and noted with what OBJ
stinacy, power and viciousness they try to MAIN
or disable one another; how they Shrek with
rage over each advantage that they obtain and
yel with pain when they are severely hurt A
giraffe duel much resembles a camers. as will
be seen from what proceed to state.
The rivals were not well matched-the taller
was out OF condition and very old; the other
was IN splendid form and in the prime of life
L concluded that fight was imminent and had
no difficulty in deciding which would be the
victor. Ihey roared IN unison, as if each were
trying to drown the others voice; sometimes
this would cease for a few moments and then
begin again with renewed strength
Presently the belligerepts came within a few
yards OF each other. Then commenced a
scene that battles all description. Some neo-
pie might call it ludicrous; il was far moro II
was side-splitting, and but for my desire 10
see the end must have given way TO conyul-
sions of laughter. Although the giraffe nos
sesses certain beauty when at rest it loses its
grace when In motion, and the greater its
speed the more ungainly does il appear. But
when two mature bulls begin 70 waltz and
dance violently around each other each en-
deavoring to Guido the other in agility, at the
same time mumbling their jaws ana emitting
fearfully dlscordant roars il is certainly one Of
the most absurd sights human eve ever looked
upon. L have often seen a crane dance-a
function common enough north of the yaaI
river; it is more than funny-it is ridiculous-|
but cannot for an instant be compared to the
antics OF these two mammoth brutes Their
great height added to the grotesqueness of their
behavior, but even If the beasts had been no
bigger than goats or sheep the absurd manner
in which they swung about their feet con-
torted their bodies and swayed their heads
must have moved the most phlegmatic
We lay hidden and quiet while the rivals
were getting closer and closer to each other:
at length, when they were nearly within strik-
ing distance, simultaneously each dropped
upon his knees and commenced to twist and
Irvine his long neck about that Of the other.
with the evident purpose of seizing his ad.
versarys throat. This lasted several minutes
but both were skilled Of fence and ulti,
mately relinquished this style of fighting and
adopted other tactics They began rearing "a
if to bear each other down, their mouths ali The
time open to grip If opportunity occurred. At
length the violent exercise began to tell upon
the elder beast; he made some mistake In a
parry and the younger seized with his teeth
the foot OF the veteran, who in return laid
hold of his opponents ear. For some moments
there was Q pause. 1t was very brief and
then the struggle was renewed With a gi-
gantic effort the younger giraffe threw the
old hero upon his haunches- He looked yerv
much as II he had played his last card. but
there was pluck in his aged heart vet. though
the battle was not for him; years told against
him and victory lay with the youngster. who
celebrated 1t by trying TO drag the vsnauished
after him. This operation must have been
painful, for the shrieks that the defeated var
rior uttered we're heartrending.
After q final worry, the hero of the hopr
walked Oh, mobbed the two harems of ladies
together, and, willingly followed by all, took
the lead Not one Of the ,zenana Of the fallen
chief turned head for al instant to see what
had become Of him. fear IL is much the same
among our own race ~ II 70 among the inferior
animals.
The veteran finally tried to pull himself to-
gether, but he was dreadfully Knocked about
- well as very lame. With anxious ewes be
gazed in the direction the herd had taken.
possibly wishing 70 follow, or with hope that
ono Of his wives at least would return 70 him.
Not 90; the poor old fellow was doomed TO dis
appointment, and appeared to realize that he
was deserted. The life before him 1 knew
would be one Of misery; therefore what better
could do but raise my ride, glance along my
sight and ssud bullet through his heart Il
was . nd aitsrnatiyes but afbee IL think u
~ hunanA