Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-04-10
SPORT IN THE VELDT.
A TALE OF CUNNING THAT WILL
WARM A HUNTERS BLOOD.

Innocent of Farms and Fences-No Heavy
Clothing to Cucumber the Hunter.
Wagon life in the South African in
terror has of course its draw backs, yet
in a climate where for about seven
months absolutely settled weather may
be relied upon its pleasures outnumber
them 80 to l. To mount ones pony on
clear bright morning; to ride forth
into the veldt with friend and brace
of pointers, with the blessed feeling
that you have not care in the world
beyond the march of your wagon to the
next water; to be absolutely certain of
some pretty shooting in wild country
innocent of farms and fences; to return
to camp toward evening with perhaps
10 or IL brace of birds and small buck
these things, to the average healthy
male, seem as near perfection as may be
found in this vale of tears.
1t is8 o'clock on bright April morn
ing in South Bechuanaland The air is
full of light, brisk and wonderfully ex-
hilarating. Four gunners have just
breakfasted under the lee of their wag
on. Now, having mounted their ponies
the average South African horse is
seldom more than ii hands-they ride
quietly down the hither side of the
shallow vailey-''laagte = it is called in
these parts-wherein they were out
spanned, and climb the farther rise.
It is picturesque scene. The slopes
are clothed with long growth Of wav-
ing grass, now greenish yellow after
the rains, amid which great bowlders OF
dark red rock crop up. Here and there
small patches of blue green bush start
out from the grassy veldt. Beyond,
browning the valley, begins thickish
woodland of short trees-bastard yellow
wood, the Beers call them-which ex-
tends for some miles in front, till the
great open plains are again reached. As
the gunners ride up the farther slope
their wagon is already in motion behind
them, starting upon its days trek, II
miles to the next water. Through the
clear, nimble air comes the crack Of
the drivers great whip and his shrill
cries, hurled at the oxen, and the un-
wieldy home on wheels crushes slowly
through the yielding sand. But now the
gunners have spread out in line, and
the pointers are already busy. Near
some powders one of the dogs feathers
little, then stands, rigid as figure of
bronze. The two nearest gunners dis
mount. They already carry their guns
and bandoliers and ride, as men do in
the veldt, in their flannel shirts with
their sleeves we'll rolled up the arma
There is little to cucumber their move
ments. Breeohes, CATERS and stout
boots, a shirt and shady hat are all
that a man needs in Africa
The reins are thrown over the ponies
necks and hang in front of them, and
the nags will stand quietly for hours
Now the gunners are close upon the
pointer, still standing with rigid tail
and outstretched neck. These francolins
lie close in the long grass. where the
deuce On a sudden up spring three
brown birds within five feet of the
sportsmen. Twenty yards of law, the
guns are up. two light reports from
smokeless cartridges, and brace of the
UlIu5 LII tll6 cdl A1hOob 1AStdhtlN a
third report follows, and the near gun
ner has secured his right and left, not a
difficult matter with these francolin.
But the pointer is not yet content
Another brace of birds is found and
brought to bag within 80 yards. The
partridges are now gathered. They prove
to be the small Coqui francolin-
"N'swimpi' the natives call them
perhaps the most beautiful game birds
in the world. As one of them lies i'll the
gunner palm for few moments, the
bright nankin yellow and orange of the
head, the clear, hawklike markings of
the breast and the beautiful shape and
feathering mark this partridge of Africa
as gem among its fellows. The birds
are bestowed in a saddlebag, and the
gunners mount and ride into the forest
on the right hand side of the wagon
road. Meanwhile their comrades have
entered the woodland more 70 the left
hand, and their guns can be heard al
ready going.
For two hours the sportsnen quietly
walk their horses through the forest,
moving due west Once their pointer
gets into small troop Of guinea fowl
delving for bulbs, and after q smart
chase drives three Of them into tree,
whence. as they fy OFF, the ganners SO.
euro them easily enough.
At length, after picking up few but
terf1ies in the forest olearings, for they
carry net, our gunners emerge upon
broad, rolling, sun drenched plains,
covered with long, pale yellow grass.
Through these they ride steadily hour
after hour, picking up every now and
again head or two of game. Now it is
brace of big red wing partridge (Or-
ange river francolin); now one Of those
annoying yet handsome game birds, the
black and white bustard-zwart koor-
haan, the Beers call him-whose very
noisy and chiding ways are familiar
everywhere in open veldt in South AZ
RIGA. Now, after keenest search, leash
Of tiny bush quail are flushed and se-
cured, one after the other having liter
ally to be kicked up. A hare and a SOL
itary "dikkop' knee plover-are
added to the growing bag.-Cor. Lon
don Review.