Through the Kalahari Desert. G.A. Farini
CHAPTER XVI.
An elephant hunt—A beautiful tree—Some realistic music— In ambush for the elephants—Charged by the pachyderms —A wounded elephant doctoring himself—A convenient ladder—Kert has a narrow escape—We sup off elephant’s feet—A happy release—Hunting the buffalo—More frightened than hurt—A grand cattle-grazing country—In luck again!—A herd of zebra—A fortune waiting to be caught—A puzzle for an antiquary—A substitute for po- tato—Evidence of the gradual elevation of the country—
| Curious customs of the Damaras………………………………..……………….257 |
CHAPTER XVII.
Through the lion’s territory—From Ochimbunde to Kerses— Another way of making thick milk—An Englishman in- cog.—A city of huts—Dirk Verlander the chief of the Bastards-—In a quandary—How Verlander became “cap- tain”—Time reckoning and money equivalents among the Bastards—Bastard customs—A cattle ranche—Going to meetin’—Master-beggars—The private secretary—We start on a hunting expedition—A twilight reverie—Trapping a
| jackal………………………………………………………………………………………..273 |
CHAPTER XVIII.
Defying the poison-berrie—A ride after a girafle—A tall beast —Hints on giraffe hunting—Charming away the lions and vultures—A desert delicacy—I spend a night alone in a tree— A descent of vultures in force—A monster vulture- Nocturnal visitors—The “lion’s scavenger” versus “lion’s
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provider”—The hyena enters a caveat—In dreamland—A curious bird—Three lions appear on the scene—Photograph- ing Leo at home—A foolhardy experiment—Camera versus
| gun—Death of the king………………………………………………….…………..290 |
CHAPTER XIX.
A lion’s leap—Qui s’ excuse s’ accuse—Watching the wildebeests —After the giraffe—Astonishing the natives—Photograph- ing the dying giraffe—Catching a baby giraffe—Cutting up the booty—Making biltong—Stalking the ostriches—A night of feasting—A two-legged lion—A nocturnal adven-
| ture—How the poisoned arrows work………………….………………………310 |
CHAPTER XX.
Butterfly-hunting—A chameleon—Mixing the poison-pot— Smearing the arrows—How the arrows are made—“ Honey- beer “ — How the wild-bees’ nests are made—Honey gather- ing—Chewing the grubs—Making honey-beer—A drunken orgie—A false alarm—A tragic sequel to the feast—
| Friends not enemies………………………………………………………………..…333 |
CHAPTER XXI.
The Vaalpens or Kattea tribe—A “Christian” Kaffir—White- washing the darkies—A drink of nectar—A Kattea hunt— Running short of provisions—In the slave-market—Up- ington our pole-star—Bitten by a snake—A new mountain —A wonderful wall—An archssological discovery—Collect- ing water-insects—A bird’s-nesting snake—Our laundry— In straits for want of food and water—A moonlight scene —A fresh team—A lucky find—Death of “Lady Anna”
| —Bitten by a snake—Similia similibus curantur…….…………………….349 |
CHAPTER XXII.
At Mier again—The private secretary becomes confidential—A war of extermination—Terrible confessions—A trustworthy councillor—A garden at Mier—A fertile soil—The “born-
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tired” disease—An antidote to snake poison—An enter- prising Boer—A Bastard family—Making the calves use- ful—Exchange and barter—A raid on the water-fowl
| — K’ Abiam Pool………………………………………………………………………..368 |
CHAPTER XXIII.
Down the banks of the Orange River—A settler from Canada —The waggon overturned—Surgery under difficulties— Engineering the road—Exploring the river-banks—Cross- ing the rapids—First glimpse of the Falls—A waterfall out of the solid rock—A whirlpool—A beautiful scene—A flowery bower—Pride has a fall—Photographing the rapids
| —Freaks of nature—Reconnoitring the Hercules Falls…………………..383 |
CHAPTER XXIV.
An acrobatic enterprise—Photographing the Hercules Falls—A sudden rise in the river—We make a raft—Pheasants, guinea-fowls, and rock-pigeons—Discretion the better part of valour—Descending the precipice—Farini Towers and Falls—A magnificent sight—A narrow escape—Mudlarks —A well-earned supper—An underground stream—The Diamond Falls—Surprised by the flood—”The Hundred
| Falls”……………………………………..…………………………………………………399 |
CHAPTER XXV.
Imprisoned by the flood—A night in mid-stream—A baboon for breakfast—Escaping from prison—We are welcomed with smiles—A visit from a poetical Bastard—Bushman Precipice—Hippopotamus-shooting extraordinary—A civi- lized dinner—An enterprising settler—A tobacco factory—
| An island estate—Hottentot doctors……………………………………………419 |
CHAPTER XXVI.
At Upington—The pleasures of civilization— A fair gardener and a garden fair—A notable irrigation work—A Bushman’s
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bonne-bouche—A happy family—A dangerous ford—Pati- ence and perseverance—A sharp trader—A grand tea-party —A Boer wedding party—Catechized about the Queen— Prieska—Hard lines for the Bushmen—Fronde’s “honest Boer” at last!—Hope Town again—A sale by auction—
| Honest Boers— “Interviewed” —General conclusions……………………434 |
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
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| The Author Lulu, the Artist | } | . . . . . . . . Frontispiece | |||
| View of Kimberley . . . . . . | to face |
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