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Updated: June 16, 2025
Before nightfall we came to a ridge whereon this bush-veld turned south, fringing that tributary of the great river in the swamps of which we were to hunt for sea-cows. Here we camped and next morning, leaving the waggon in charge of my voorlooper and a couple of the Strathmuir natives, for the driver was to act as my gun-bearer we marched down into the sea of bush-veld.
"What are they, and what does he say." "Sea-cows," replied the interpreter. "Hippopotami! We must have a shot at them, Wilmot," cried the Major. "To be sure; tell them we will stop and kill one if we can," said Wilmot to the interpreter. "We shall want one to feed our army," said Swinton, laughing, "or our sheep will soon be devoured."
Also my foot is now quite well and I want to shoot sea-cows, and " Here he paused. "And what, Hans?" "And Goroko said that there was going to be much fighting and if there should be fighting and you should come to harm because I was not there to protect you, what would your reverend father think of me then?"
At sea these Indians supplied the mariners with fish, for they were singularly skilful with the fish spear. When a gang of buccaneers put to sea without provisions, they generally steered to the feeding grounds of the sea-turtles, or to some place where the sea-cows, or manatees, were found. Here the Indians were sent out in small canoas, with their spears and tortoise irons.
"What are they, and what does he say?" "Sea-cows," replied the interpreter. "Hippopotami! We must have a shot at them, Wilmot," cried the Major. "To be sure; tell them we will stop and kill one if we can," said Wilmot to the interpreter. "We shall want one to feed our army," said Swinton laughing, "or our sheep will soon be devoured."
"A dugong," said Briscoe, cocking and raising his double rifle. "Dugong or manatee. Sea-cows, we call 'em. Going to shoot it, sir?" The American hesitated. "It seems tempting," he said; "but I don't know. It's too big for a specimen." "And not very good to eat; at least, I don't suppose we should like it."
At the expiration of that period, famine once more seemed inevitable; the third morning began to dawn upon the unfortunate company after their stock of eggs were exhausted; they had now been without food for more than forty hours, and were fainting and dejected; when, as though this desolate rock were really a land of miracles, a man came running up to the encampment with the unexpected and joyful tidings that "millions of sea-cows had come on shore."
Now he wished to do so again, taking advantage of my presence, both because of the value of the hides of the sea-cows which were cut up to be sent to the coast and sold as sjamboks or whips, and because of the sport of the thing. Also I think he desired to show me that he was not altogether sunk in sloth and drink.
Here, bordered by steep banks covered with bush, was swampy ground not more than two hundred yards wide, down the centre of which ran a narrow channel of rather deep water, draining a vast expanse of morass above. It was up this channel that the sea-cows travelled to the feeding ground where they loved to collect at that season of the year.
When the animals were brought to the vessels, it was no small disappointment to many of the seamen, who had feasted their eyes for several days with the prospect of eating them, to find that they were not sea-cows, as they had supposed, but sea-horses.
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