The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1898-12-03
AN AFRICAN ADVENTURE.
How Some Zulu Lads Hunted Out a For.
c%u,ine.

During my residence in Natal, South
Africa, l was often annoyed by por-
cupines which would nibble ut sweet
potatoes, cabbages. and other vegetables,
and then leave them to decay. 1t was
difficult to destroy the animals, for they
committed their dcpre,lations Mt night.
and dogs had u wholesome dread oil
their quills, says j. D. Tyler, the Wash.
ington traveller.
One old %porcupine was particularly
mlschicvous. Occupying Il deep hole
that had been dug and abandoned by
an ant bear, in close proximity to my
garden. he made his raids without fear.
Offering n large prize TO those who
would bring the animal TO me dead O,
alive, some Zulu lads vowed that they
would kill him. At first they set Il trap.
on the same principle as those EN-.
ployed te-share large animals, SUCH as
elephants, ~bufialoes, and Glands. This
was done by simply digging a hole
and covering it with light brush,
leaves, and sand, fixing underneath
sharp sticks and spears TO impale the
creatures falling through. This, how.
ever, did not succeed. for the %porcupine,
suspccting danger, jumped from the
mouth of his retreat to where he could
get II footing, and then on to his feast ir
the garden.
Their next plan was to dig him out.
Had the hole been near the river j
should have suggested drowning him,a
used to do in ease of woodchucks when
a lad i'll Connecticut. The Zulus made
good use of their picks and spades, aud
bt,Ny1f nnnn Npn p,il .Iao. H. $500
cupine digging away as If his life de.
pended upon it, which was the case.
AS the sun began to sink beyond the
horizon the lads asked: "Shall we lei
TINT rascally fellow continue master OF
the situation?"
One of them. a tall, athletic fellow,
plucky aud rash. the worthy son of .
worthy farmer, trained in the school OF
Zulu warfare. a rule ofwhlch is ito die
rather than yield" said: a will go iulc
the hole and spear him"
His companions demonstrated. saw
ing: "You will lose your presence Of
mind and the p%orcupine vii! prick you
to DEATH"
However, he would not be restrained.
Tying a large handkerchief about hi,
head and Selling an assegai in he went
and was soon II of sight.
Just then | appeared on the scene,
and fearing that If not actually Killed
he would find coming out more Diff
cult than going in, l ordered the boys
10 pull him to the surface. Viii some
difficulty they dug down and, catching
hold of his feet, executed the task. Ii
was well they did not delay, for the
fellow had become wedgcd in the hole
and could not have returned without
help.
Half suffocated, lie uttered a cry OF
thanks for his own safety. but was aw.
fully chagrined that lie had not been
able to dispatch his enemy" as be
called the %porcupine.
The lads, though somewhat dis.
couraged, were not disposed to give
up their undertaking. Filling the
holes with logs and sharp sticks they
retired for the night, but began afresh
the next morning, aided by some
dogs, which entered into the sport
theoretically. At monday they reached
the animal, nearly exhausted in siren 9Th.
and gave him a dozen or more spear
wounds.
The prize was divided among them
and, for a time, my garden was uudis,
tNrbed.