The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-02-18

One of the most successful methods Of
destroying game by wholesale is an IN
Nention of the kaf1irs OF South Africa,
described by Mr.. Wood in the first vol
ume of his work on "rhe Uncivilized
Races of Men," 1t is nothing more nor
less than remarkable trap called the
Lopo, says a writer in the ST. LOUIS
Republic.
The hopo is, in fact, very large pitfall,
dug out with great labor and capable OF
holding a vast number OF animals.
Trunks of trees are laid over it at each
end, and similar arrangement is made
at the sides, so that kind of overlapping
edge is given to it, and beast that has
fallen into it cannot possibly escape.
From this pit two fences diverge IN a
Vlike form, the pit being the apex
These fences are about mile in length,
and their extremiJies are q mile or even
more apart.
Many hundreds of hunters then turn
out and ingeuiOusly contrive to decOy or
drive the herd of game into the treacher-
GUS space between the fences. They then
form themselves into a Gordon across the
open end OF the Y and advance slowly,
so as TO urge the animals onward. y
miscellaneous company OF Glands, harte-
beests, gnoOs, Zebras ana other animals is
thus driven nearer and
NEARER TO DESTRUCTION.
Toward the angle of the V the fence is
narrowed into Il kind of lane or passage
come fifty yards in length and is made
very strongly, so to prevent the al
trighted ANIMALS from breaking through.
When number of them have fairly en-
tered the passage the hunters dash for
ward, yelling at the full stretch of their
powerful voices, brandishing their shields
and assagais and so terri tying the doomed
animals that they dash blindly forward
Nnd fail into the pit.
1t Is useless for those in front to recoil
when they see their danger, as they are
pushed onward by their comrades, and
IN a few minutes the pit is full of dead
and dying animals Many OF the herd
escape when the PIT is quite full by pass
ing over the bodies of their fallen COM
paniOns, but enough are taken TO feast
the whole tribe for a considerable time.
Sometimes pitfalls are constructed Tor
the reception OF single animals, such as
the elephant, the hippOpotamus and the
rhlnOceroS, Elephants are, OF course, the
most valuable game that can be taken in
these traps, because their tuslIs can be
sold at high price and their flesh sup
plies vast quantity OF meat. AS the
elephant Is terrible enemy to their corn
fields and Stbrehouses, the natives are in
=
means Of pitfalls, and at first find their
stratagem successful. But the elephants
are so crafty that they soon learn caution
IRON the tate OF their comrades, and it is
rs difficult to catch an elephant in a pit
tall as II is to catch an old rat in a trap
Having been accustomed 10 such SucCu-
lent repaSts, the elephants do not like TO
give up their feasts altogether, and pro-
coed on their nocturnal eEpediti GnS much
as usual. But some of the oldest and
warIest of the herd go in front. and when
they come near the cultivated ground
they beat the earth
WITH THEIR TRUNKS,
Not venturiug step until they have as
CertaInel that their footing is safe A
soon rs they come to a pItiaI the sound
warns them Of danger. They instantly
stop, tear the covering of the pitialI 10
pieces, and having thus unmasked it.
proceed on their way.
Occasionally number of kaffirs turn
out for the purpose OF elephant hunting.
BY dint of the wary caution which they
can always exercise when in pursuit of
game, they find out the animal which
possesses the finest tusks and mark all
his pecullarIueS; they then watch the
spot where he treaQs, and by means OF q
lump OF soft clay they take an impression
OF his feet marks. Their reason Tor doing
so Is simple enough, viz, that if thew
risk OF cOnfUunding his footmarks with
those of other elephants. The sole OF
every elephants foot is traversed bv a
number OF lndented lines, and in no two
specimens are these lines alike. The
clay model OF the footprints serves them
as a guide whereby they NAV assure
themselves that they are on the right
track whenever they come to the nei.rh-
borhood of water, where the ground is
soft, and where the footprints of many
elephants are sure TO be found.
Their next endeavOr is to creep near
enough 10 the elephant to infiict a severe
wound upon 1t, and object which is gem
orally attended by number OF dark
hunters gliding among the trees and
simultaneously hurting their spears ct
the unsuspecting animal. The wounded
elephant is nearly certain to charge di-
rectly at the spot from which he faucies
that the assault has been made, and
his shrek OF mingled rage and alarm is
sure TO cause the rest Of the herd 10 rush
Oft in terror. The hunters then try Nv
various strategems to isolate the wounded
animal from its comrades, and 10 prevent
him from rejoining them, while at every
opportunity assagals are thrown, and the
elephant Is
NEVER PERMITTED To REST
AS wounded elephant ALWAYS nal,ss
for the bush, 1t would be quite safe from
white hunters, though not so from the
1.-the and naked kaiiirs, who glide
through the underwood and between the
trees faster than the elephant can push its
way through them. Every now and then
IL will turn and charge madly at its foes
but it eNpends its strength in vain. as
they escape by nimbly jumping behind
trees, or IN critical cases by elm hing mn
them, knowing that an elephant never
seems to comprehend that foe can be
anywhere but on the ground.
l,,r iroh nf gl,u Sd,
sisted by their dogs, which bark iuces-
sanity at the animal and serve to distract
its attention from the hunters, It
seem strange that so huge an animal as
the elephant should be in the least im-
peded by such small creatures as dogs.
which, even ii he stood still and allowed
them 10 bite his legs TO their hearts con-
tent, could make no impression on the
thick and tough skin which defends
them. But the elephant has a STRANGE
terror Of small animals, and especialiv
breads the dog, SO that when it is making
up It's nina 10 charge IN one direction
the barking OF contemplate little chr
will divert Il rom its purpose and enahla
Its intended victim either TO secure him
self behind q tree or become the assailant
and add another spear TO the number al
ready qulYerlng III the animals vast
body.
Inc slaughter Of an elephant by this
mode of hunting IS always long ami
cruel process. EVen when the hunters
are furnished with the best firearms. 4
number OF wounds are generally in
nicted before it dies. the exceptional case.
when II fails dead a. the first shot being
very rare indeed.
Now, however powerful may be the
practlced aim OF g kaflir. and sharp as
may be his weapon, he cannot drive IT
through the lnch-thick hide into q vital
part and the consequence Is that the poor