Five Years of A Hunter's Life in the Far Interior of South Africa. - First edition

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1851. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... THE ELEPHANT'S FOUNTAIN. 257 sun ; but the powerful and cruel Matabili had attacked the tribe, and driven them to seek a home elsewhere. I shot a pallah and a wildebeest, which we secured behind the wagons. About 10 A.M. we inspanned, and within a mile of Lepeby we passed through another similar open vley, containing a strong fountain of delicious water. We continued our march till sundown through an undulating open country, thinly covered with detached trees and thorny bushes, and encamped in a sandy desert without water. CHAPTER XIV. The Bamangwato Mountains--The Elephant's Fountain--A Troop of colossal Giraffes--Elephants drinking by Night--Habits of the African Elephant--Elephant Hunt--A Bull shot after a dangerous Encounter--Cutting out the Tasks--Extraordinary Rocks--Mountain Eetreat of Sicomy, King of Bamangwato--His Cunning--Barter Muskets for Ivory--His Majesty's curious Gun-practice--Trading for Native Weapons. On the 25th, at dawn of day, we inspanned, and trekked about five hours in a northeasterly course, through a boundless open country sparingly adorned with dwarfish old trees. In the distance the long-sought mountains of Bamangwato at length loomed blue before me. We halted beside a glorious fountain, which at once made me forget all the cares and difficulties I had encountered in reaching it. The name of this fountain was Massouey, but I at once christened it "the Elephant's own Fountain." This was a very remarkable spot on the southern borders of endless elephant forests, at which I had at length arrived. The fountain was deep and strong, situated in a hollow at the eastern extremity of an extensive vley, and its margin was surrounded by a level stratum of solid old red sandstone. Here and there lay a thick layer of soil upon the rock, and this...