Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-01-05

London Graphic: To the south and
| eastward of LObeugulas capital is stu
ated Macalaca land. 1t was conquered
by that doughty monarch's father,
McsiGkatze, and still remains subserv-
lent to the MatabeleS. The approx
mate position Of my camp at the time
l witnessed the scene l will endeayor
to describe as latitude q degrees south,
longitude 81 degrees east. The COM
try surrounding me was marVelouSly
attractive, although only sand, very
SparSely covered with bush, therefore
totally useless for agricultural or pas
toral purposes, but through the fiat
yeldt's surface, at irregular intervals,
rose copies of immense blocks Of stone,
piled one upon the other, that reseln-
hled the debris that might have been
left after Titans had built a gigantic
city or mammoth fortifcaticn. These
eruptions from beneath the earth's
surface were covered with parasitic
plants, decorated with most attractive
fruit or gorgeous blossoms. A species
of aloe too, was numerous, the upright
stem which bears it's flower having q
very striking resemblance to civiliza-
| tons unsightly telegraph poles.
This country is not destitute of water,
as is attested by the numbers of ba-
boons, monkeys and leopards that fire.
quent the copies, and the antelopes,
zebras and guinea fowl that wander
over the flats. Possibly the indigenous
bushmen know where to find this neces-
| sity of life, but these aStute savages
| concealed their secret from me and
my people. [ was riding slowly along,
| admiring the beautiful colors Of that
distant landscape. In close attendance
was my Mascara guide. My reverie
was broken by an unknown sound,
which echoed and reached from the
surrounding crags. 1t was not the hon
est bark Of the baboon, or the rever-
berating voice Of the lion, or the hy-
ena's discordant laugh, but combina-
ton of all Of them, uttered In q,1ick
successive gasps.
! On inquiry from my follower he in
formed me that kameelS (giraffes) were
! the originatOrs Of the unknown sound.
i Tho Mascara begged me to follow him.
This l did, and 50 became witness of
one Of the most extraordinary sights
in wild life that I 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 MAIN
or disable one another; how they shrek
with rage over each advantage that
they obtain. and yen with pain when
they are severely hurt.
A giraffe duel much resembles a
camers. The rivals were not well
matched-the taller was out Of condi-
ton and very old; the other was In
splendid form and in the prime of life.
/ concluded that fight was imminent.
and had no difficulty In deciding which
would be the victor. They 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 belligerents came within
few yards of each other.
Although the giraffe possessed q GER
tain 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
around each other. each endeavoring
to Guido the other in agility, at the
same time mumbling their jaws and
emitting fearfully discordant roars, it
is certainly one of the most absurd
sights human eye ever looked upon.
have often seen a crane dance-a func-
don common enough north Of the Vaal
river; it is more than funny-it is ridicu-
loNs but cannot for an instant be
compared to the antics Of these two
mammoth brutes Their great height
added to the grotesqueness Of their be-
havior; but even If the beasts had been
no bigger than goats or sheep, the alb
surd manner in which they swung
about their feet, contorted their bodies
and swayed their heads must have
moved the most phelgmatic.
We lay hidden and quiet while the
rivals were getting closer and closer
to each other; at length, when they
were nearly within striking 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
selling his adversary's throat This
lasted several minutes, but both were
skilled Of fence" and ultimately relin-
pushed this style Of fighting and adopt
ed other tactics. They began rearing
as il to bear each other down. their
mouths all the time open to grip If
opportunity occurred A. length the
violent exercise began to tell upon the
elder beast: he made some mistake 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. 1t was very brief. and then the
struggle was renewed. With a 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 youngster. who
celebrated it by trying to drag the van
quished after him. This operation
must have been painful. for the shriel1s