Notes on Natal : an old colonist's book for new settlers / edited by John Robinson.
- John Robinson
- Date:
- 1872
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Notes on Natal : an old colonist's book for new settlers / edited by John Robinson. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.
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![here in gi'eat abundance, denoting slaughter among the game, of -which we are now in the thick. On the way this morning we intercepted about 1000 bucks crossing the road within shooting distance, in single file—a very- pretty sight They appeared as if about to charge down upon us, but on seeing the trap, wheeled suddenly round, first at a trot, then going off at full swing. While we are outspanned, there are numerous blesbucks grazing quietly all around us at comparatively close ranges. Further away the veldt is literally thick -with -wildebeeste (gnus). The springbucks are especially fleet, and diffi- cult to get at, the blesbuck and gnus not so much so. The gnu may be described as of a tawny blackish colour, about the size of a donkey, a head large in jiroportion to the body, mane of long bristly hair, horns bent like those of the buffalo, only smaller. At first sight the animal has a formidable look. The bulls generally separate a little from the herd, for which on being disturbed, they make; it is therefore best, unless you can get near enough for a broadside, to walk aside a little in advance on the line they will have to ]}ass to regain the herd. We had many chances of a shot from the box seat, but on foot never succeeded, with the time at our disposal, in getting any- where -within range. In galloping up a slight ascent we have often come suddenly on large herds of bucks before they were aware of our proximity. At 1 15 p.m. in- spanned again, our friends the blesbucks still in com- pany, theii- weather eye on us no doubt—probably scouts. At 3'10 p.m. passed two wagons outspanned near swampy ground, and.; what looked in the distance like a hovel; business game slaughterers very likely, for in this district many of the boers have no other ostensible means of existence. In fact, in a couj)le more years they will scarcely have left a wildebeeste alive, if destruction goes on at the rate it is now doing. Perhaps after aU it may not be an unmixed e-Til when the game is annihi- lated, for then these men must turn to some other in- dustry. Some of them off the road on the game flats, lower down a little than whore we now are, live in great wretchedness, in miserable hartebcoste huts perhaps. If you off-saddle at their places and want food, the chances are you are given -wildebeeste flesh. Ask for bread, they have none; mealies or corn, none; salt, none. In a word, game flesh is as potatoes were in Ireland, the sole reliance of the district, and producing not dissimilar effects. To such an extent is this the case, that we be- lieve many of them draAv from storekeepers the necessa-](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b24750517_0243.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
