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Updated: May 1, 2025
Our travelers, however, did not at first notice this change; their eyes were fixed upon the groups of quaggas and various antelopes which were strewed over the whole face of the country; and, as soon as they had taken their breakfast, they mounted their horses in pursuit.
They had completed the work before going to dinner, which, consequently, fell late on that day so nothing more remained to be done but to dine, and await the coming of the quaggas. At dinner they were all very merry, notwithstanding the immense fatigue they had gone through. The prospect of capturing the quaggas was very exciting, and kept the party in high spirits.
Though the quaggas were of great service to them, and with these they were often able to overtake the elephant, yet they as often lost their great game, and it is more easy to do so than most persons imagine. But with dogs to join in the hunt, the result would be quite different.
But no the quaggas had always come to drink in day-time one only could be trapped, and then the others alarmed would keep away. There would have been reason in what Hendrik said, but for a remarkable fact which the field-cornet himself had observed when the quaggas came to the lake to drink. It was that the animals had invariably entered the water at one point, and gone out at another.
Had they been game animals, he would have shot one; but the only motive that would have induced him to shoot one of the quaggas would have been a feeling of anger for, at that moment, he was really angry at them.
Omrah, who now understood English, although he spoke but few words, gave a nod of the head and went off to the wagon for the Major's rifle. As soon as the horses were ready, our travelers set out in chase of the gnoos and quaggas, which were collected to the westward of the caravan.
Though the men eat zebras and quaggas, blood relations of the donkey, they were shocked at the idea of eating the ass; "it would be like eating man himself, because the donkey lives with man, and is his bosom companion."
Crawford, therefore, leading his horse with one hand and the animal by the other, set off for the farm, while Rupert and his men, having covered up the dead quaggas with bushes, to guard them from the vultures and jackals until the arrival of the waggon, continued on in pursuit of further game.
The more the better, as a large number would give them the advantage of "pick and choose." Dinner over, the hunters set about preparing for the reception of their expected visitors. As already stated, the dinner had been later than usual; and it was now near the hour when the quaggas might be looked for. In order to be in time, each took his station.
The reason why this has not been done, is simply because the farmers of South Africa have horses in plenty, and do not stand in need of the quagga, either for saddle or harness. But though Von Bloom the farmer had never thought of "breaking in" a quagga, Von Bloom the hunter now did. Up to this time the field-cornet had scarce deigned to notice the quaggas.
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