The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1906-09-25
CHAPTER II.
a MORNINGS SPORT.

Moving some five or six miles round
the base of the great peak Of which ]
have spoken, we came the same day to
sne of the fairest bits of African
country that I have seen outside of
Kukuanaland.
At this spot the mountain spur that
runs cut at right angles to the great
range, which stretches it's mighty
cIoud-clad length north and south far
as the eye can reach. sweeps inward
with q vast and splendid curve.
This curve measures some i've and
thirty miles from point to point, and
across its moon-like segment the river
flashed. a silver line Of light
On the farther side Of the river is
a measureless sea of swelling ground
a mighty natural park covered with
great patches of bush, some of them
being many square miles in extent,
which are separated one from another
by glades of grass land, broken here
and there with clumps of. TEMPER, trees,
and in some instances by curious iso-
lated koppies and even by single
cragg Of granite, that start up into the
air as though they were monuments
carved by man, and not tombstones SET
by nature over the grave of ages gone.
On the west this beautiful plain is
bordered by the lonely mountain, from
the edge Of which it rolls down toward
the feyerish coast, but how far it runs
to the north / cannot Eay-eight days
journey, according to the natives, when
it is lost in the measureless swamp.
On the hither side OF the river the
scenery is different.
Along the edge of its banks, where
The land is fat, are green patches OF
swamp.
Then comes wide belt of beautiful
grass land. covered thick with game
and sl0ping up very gently to the Dor,
ders Of the forest, which, beginning al
about thousand feet above the leye
of the plain. clothes the mountain side
almost to its crest Ii
In this forest grow great trees. mos
of them Of the yellow wood species.
Some Of these trees are so lofty tina
a bird III their top branches would b,
out OF range Of an ordinary shotgun.
Another peculiar thing about them il
that they are; for the most part, COY
cred with dense growth Of the ochell.
moss
Out OF this moss the natives manu-
facture most excellent deep purpl,
dye, with which they etain tanned
hides, and also cloth when they happier
/. to get any of the latter.
/ do not think ever saw anythin,
more remarkable than the appearance
Of one Of these mighty trees festoone,
from top to bottom with trailing
wreathg Of the sad hued moss, in wil.cl
the wind whispers gently as it stir
them.
At. distance 1t looks like the gra.
4ocks or Il Titan crowned with brigh
green leaves. and here and Their
starred with the rich bloom OF orchids
The night Of that day when ha,
my little difference OF opinion wit
Gobo we eanped upon the edge o
this great forest and ON the following
morning at daylight started on
shooting.
AS we were short Of meat deter
! mined ID. kin a buffalo, OF which Their
! were plenty about before looking 10
traces Of eIephapss.
Not more than half a mile from cam
we came across trail ike a cart.road
evidently made By . great herd Q
I buffalo which had passed up at dawl
from their feeding ground ia til
mashcs 10 spend tho day in the COO
\ air Of the nplanda
1 This trail followed boldly, for suc
wind as there WIS., blew straight dow
\ the mountain side that Is, from the d
section III which the buffalo had gon
1 ITO noe.
! About milo farther on the fores
! began 10 Ret densa, and khe nature 3
I the trail ne that ! must
I close fo rs
Anoshel srea zarag ana II