The National tribune., 1899-12-07

some of the Wadschaggas wanted to see me
at once as they had some important news to
communicate to me. | told him to bring
them in. They came and squatted down on
their launches Ny interpreter a Nasal,
informed me that these men had seen seven
giraffeS not far from the camp, and that they
would lik.. me 10 shoot them, as that would
furnish meat for the tribe for some weeks
OF course / was not averse to shooting a
giraffe, but 1 did rot agree TO the whole
sale slaughter of the herd.
HUNTING GIRAFFES.
Tquickly gave my orders and in about 10
minutes started out fully-equipped, accom-
panied by several Of my soldiers, some
carriers and the Wadschagga Chief, Sol
dualla," and about 100 of his men. We had
long way to go before we came near the
giraffes. When We spied them they were
among some of tall thorn trees. and we
had to make a detour to get under the wind.
Tall grass and bushes covered our move
ments, and we managed to get very close to
them quite unobServed. Unfortunately
the Wandorobbos could not control their
ardor and sent shower OF arrows at the
browsing animals. with the effect that they
sent them scampering OFF.
was very much disgIsted and gave vent
to my feelings in not very modified Ian
guage. for they hal wounded and mai
dene the animals without being able To kill
them with their arrows. 1t now simply meant
TO follow the animals up. and that might
mean a whole days work. | intended TO
follow these wo Indej giraffes in any case.
and knowing that it wouli take some time,
/ sent some carriers back to bring my tent,
so that | could establish camp at whatever
spot should choose at night.
On we trampe on the track Of the giraffes
until We spied them again late in the after
noon in a clump Of trees. BY this time
had cautioned the Wadschaggas not to
shoot arrows again. j crept within 50
yards and found that only two of the seven
were standing up. while the others were
lying down. Though the arrow wounds
do not-kill outright. they often cause the
victim to bleed to death.
A straight shot under the ear, in slanting
direction through the brain, brought the
giraffe bull down, and before the other
younger bull could find out what had hap
pened to his mate he wss down too.
the other five wC,dnded animals jumped
up and tried tc iscamper off, but as they are
rather slSw in rising from recumbent
position when not injured, they We're more
so now being weak from loss of blood, so it
Vas easy enough for me to pick them off
while they were staggering about. Itmade
my heart sore 10 cause such wholesale
slaughter But what could do. The animals
having been wounded by the arrows of the
Wadschaggas would have bled to death and
fallen a prey to hyenaS and vultures.
The Wadschaggas greatly rejoiced and
gree i'y broke open the dead animals and
drank their blood.
As it was near Sundown, had my tent
pitched. The men We're all busy il cutting
up the giraffe meat. and my cook was pre-
pairing some marrow-bones for me. This
is unquestionably one Of the finest dishes
in the world
] had the men working TO a late hour
cutting all the meat into strips, so that il
could be hung up and sun-cured The
sklfs, which are very valuable, rs they are
thick, and make fine sandals, were spread
out and the meat was piled onto them till it