Morning journal and courier., 1892-02-09

gasps. On inquiry from my follower he informed me that ksmeels (giraffes) were the originators of the unknown sound. The Mascara begged me to follow him. This did, and so became witness of one of the most extraordinary sights in wild life that had ever seen. Those who have dwelt in the distant east have doubtlessly seen male camels fight, and noted with what obstinacy, power and viciousness they try to maim or disable one another; how they shriek with rage over each ad- vantage that they obtain, and yell with pain when they are severely hurt. A gi- raffe duel much resembled camel's, 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. I concluded that a fight was imminent, and had no difficulty in de- ciding which would be the victor. They roared in unison, as if each were trying to drown the others voice; sometimes this would ceass for few moments and then begin again with renewed strength.
 Presently the belligerents came within a few yards of each other. Then com menced a scene that baffies all description. Some peopld might call it ludicrous; it was far more, it was side-splitting, and, but for my desire to see the end, I must have given way to convulsions of laughter. Although the giraffe possesses a certain beauty when at rest, it loses its grace when in motion, and the greater its speed the more ungainly does it appear. But when two mature bulls begin to waltz and dance violently round each other, each endeavor- ing to outdo the other in agility, at the same time mumbling their jaws and emit- ting fearfully discordant roars, it is cer- tsinly one of the most absurd sights hu- man eye ever looked upon. l have often seen crane dance-a function common enough north of the Vsal 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, contorted their bodies and swayed their heads, must have moved the most phlegmatic.
 We lay hidden and quiet while the ri vals were getting closer to each other; at length, when they were nearly, within dropped upon his knees, and commenced to twist and twine his long neck about that of the other, with the evident purpose of stlLluR ul5 dhNOloaiJ thloos. 1hAo AoeSSe several minutes, but both were "skilled of fence," and ultimately relinquished this style of fighting and adopted other tao tics. They began rearing as if to bear the other down, their mouths all the time open to grip if opportunity occurred. At length the violent exercise began to tell upon the elder beast; he made some mis- take in 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 a pause It was very brief, and then the struggle was renewed. With gigantic effort the younger giraffe threw the old hero upon his launches. He looked very much as if he had played his last card, but there was pluck in his aged heart yet, though the battle was not for him, years told against him and victory lay with the younger, who celebrated it by trying to drag the vanqnished after him. This ope- ration must have been painful, for the shrieks that the defeated warrior uttered were heartrending.
 After a final worry the hero of the hour walked off, nodded the two harems of la dies together, and, willingly followed by all, took the lead. Not one of the zenana of the fallen chief turned a head for an instant to see what had become of him. l fear it is much the same among our own race as it is among the inferior animals.
 The veteran finally tried to pull himself together, but he was dreadfully knocked about, as we'll as very lame. With anx- ious eyes he gazed in the direction the herd had taken, possibly wishing to follow, or with hope that one of his wives at least would return to him. Not so; the poor old fellow was doomed to disappointment, and appeared to realize that he was desert ed. The life before him I knew would be one of misery, therefore what better could I do but raise my ride, glance along my sight and send bullet through his heart. It was sad alternative, but, after all, think it was humane.